Tributes were paid at last week’s Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District meeting to four men who played integral roles in their communities.
Former councillors Michael Joe McGreal, Balla, and Eddie Staunton, Crossmolina, both passed away recently. Mr McGreal was first elected to Mayo Co Council in 1974 and was re-elected in 1979, but did not contest the 1985 local elections. Cllr Richard Finn said he was a very genuine person who helped a lot of people during the recession in 2008.
Mr Staunton served as a councillor for over three decades and was Cathaoirleach in 2004-05. Fine Gael Cllr Neil Cruise said Mr Staunton was a “proud son of Mayo”.
Tributes were also paid to Kevin Prendergast and Billy O’Carroll, who also died recently..
Mr Prendergast, a native of Carramack, Tulrohan, Claremorris, was a well-known Country music singer whose songs met acclaim in the UK and Ireland. Cllr Cruise praised Mr Prendergast for “always having the common touch”. Cllr Finn said he would be a huge loss to the people of Lohan Park and Brickens, where he settled in later years.
Cllr Michael Burke said Mr O’Carroll will be a huge loss to Ballinrobe.
