This article is from page 14 of the 2012-12-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
FORMER Mayor of Kilrush Cllr Stephen O’Gorman (FF) passed away on Friday morning just hours after watching a recorded episode of Coronation Street with his wife Geraldine.
The town councillor had been ill for the last few months, but his sudden passing was still a shock to his loving family, friends, fellow councillors and constituents.
Cllr O’Gorman was elected to Kilrush Town Council in 1994 and served as mayor on two occasions. His colleagues described him as a political colossus.
He was recognised for his resilience and more particularly for his stand against anti-social behaviour.
At his request the Multi-Agency Task Force, bringing together all strands of community life under one umbrella, was established. The John Paul Estate Regeneration Project was one of his greatest political achievements. As Manager of the Community Centre in the estate, he organised self-development programmes for the residents. He was also a member of the board of Kilrush Amenity Trust, Éiri Corca Baiscinn and Clare VEC.
Kilrush Town Clerk John Corry said that during his time working with Stephen he found the councillor took a “very keen interest and pride in his town and in particular in John Paul Estate.”
“He continuously fought to see the regeneration of John Paul Estate and it was an immense source of satisfaction to him to see such significant improvement works taking place in the estate over the past few years. As well as the structural improvements within the estate he also sought to improve the social fabric of the estate through the Multi Agency Group set up for that purpose and through his role as supervisor of the community centre within the estate.
“Over the years Stephen raised many Notices of Motion regarding carrying out improvement works to Moore Street, Crawford Street, and Wilson’s Road. Stephen was delighted to see significant improvement works carried out to roads, footpaths and public lighting in these areas by Kilrush Town Council, on foot of his Motions.
“On a personal level Stephen was a great family man and on my last conversation with him he spoke to me about family and the importance of family. Stephen will be a huge loss to Kilrush Town Council, to Kilrush and most of all to his family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”
Stephen O’Gorman is survived by his beloved wife Geraldine, sons Stephen and Barry, daughters Mandy, Sinéad, Mary and Claire, sonsin-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, relatives and friends.