This article is from page 36 of the 2008-05-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 36 JPG
DYNAMIC, honourable and a pas- sionate supporter of the Irish lan- eAUeE Ton
They were just some of the tributes paid to the late Riobeard O’Ceallaigh by friends and former colleagues at last Tuesday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council.
Mr. O’Ceallaigh, who served as Ennis Town Manager from 1985- 1994, died in Dublin last week. He had been suffering from a rare heart disorder for a number of years.
Leading the tributes Mayor of En- nis Tommy Brennan (Ind.) recalled Mr. O’Ceallaigh as a man central to the development of Ennis as a mod- ern town.
He said, “He had a great way about him, a great way of getting things
done. Without him the Ennis 750 celebrations would never have hap- pened. He was one of the first in- volved in the re-development of Par- nell Street. He was the first man to introduce wheelie bins in Ennis. He was way before his time”’.
A strong supporter of the Irish lan- guage, Mr. O’Ceallaigh was chair- man of Glor na Gael Ennis when the organisation scooped a major na- tional award last March. He was also chairman of Conradh na Gaeilge and of Clar na Gailge.
Town engineer Tom Tiernan said, “It’s hard to believe a man of such energy has died. You always felt his enthusiasm.
“T was always getting phone calls from him about little bits of Irish that were missing from a sign here or there. They were always glass-half-
full comments with Bob.”
Fianna Fail councillor Peter Con- sidine, a long time colleague and friend of Mr O’Ceallaigh said, “He was the most honourable man you could ever hope to meet.
“Without taking anything away from the current executive, he was the best public official I ever met in my life.”
Fianna Fail councillor Joe Reidy said Mr O’Ceallaigh was “nothing but a gentleman. He will be a great loss to the town of Ennis and the oot b nA ae
Fine Gael councillor Mary Coote Ryan said, “Bob was a thorough gen- tleman and a very good friend. What has happened in the town is testa- ment to his great work.”
Fianna Fail councillor Tom Glynn said Mr O’Ceallaigh was a “wonder-
ful person”. Fine Gael councillor Johnny Flynn said Mr O’Ceallaigh’s greatest skill was his ability to deal with others.
He said, “He had a dynamic na- ture and his energy was hugely ap- parent. He was very demanding. He expected the best of public servants because he expected the best of him- self…He was an extraordinarily de- cent person.”
Independent councillor Frankie Neylon said, “It’s apparent when you walk the streets and you hear about Bob Kelly, you hear what type of man he was.”
Town clerk Eddie Power said Mr O’Ceallaigh possessed a “terrifically positive attitude to life and work.”
Town mwanager Tom Coughlan said, “I never worked with Bob but I am sure I would have learned a lot.”