Castlebar council meeting adjourns as mark of respect to bereaved families
TWO pillars of the wider Castlebar community who died suddenly recently were warmly remembered in tributes today.
The monthly Castlebar Municipal District (MD) meeting was adjourned as a mark of respect to the late James Kelly, a council employee, and Seamus Tuohy, chairman of Mayo GAA, who were both described as wonderful community men.
Their families, friends, colleagues and the wider community whose lives they touched were in councillors thoughts as they extended sympathy to them on their loss.
James Kelly was a member of the Castlebar MD's outdoor staff and cathaoirleach Councillor Ger Deere recalled a man who was diligent in his work, a team player - nothing was ever a problem to James.
Seamus Tuohy, from Breaffy, a first cousin of Councillor Al McDonnell, personified professionalism and passion for the GAA and community and he left a fantastic legacy.
Councillor Deere also knew him through farming and described him as 'a genuine good guy'.
In other tributes, councillors recalled James Kelly's involvement in football with Parke GAA Club. He was a great community man as well as being a valued member of the council's staff, who was versatile and worked in different roles.
Seamus Tuohy, from Breaffy, gave so much of his life to the GAA, at club and county level, and seeing the Sam Maguire coming to the county after 75 years was a fitting reward for him, having put so much into Mayo football. He was a gentleman who will be sadly missed by everyone, including Mayo GAA.
Councillor Al McDonnell complimented the county board on how they handled Mr. Tuohy's funeral, and complimented the Mayo senior team and the Breaffy teams who turned out, in what was a great tribute.
Also remembered at the meeting was the late Martin Salmon, who was very involved with Special Olympics in Castlebar. And sympathy was also extended to Billy Burke on the passing of his wife, Irene, and all the other families locally who have lost loved ones in recent times.