Marion played an important role in shaping the Waterford Older People's Council

It is with profound sadness that the Waterford Older People’s Council learned of the passing of our much-loved colleague and friend, Marion O’Mara, who died peacefully on Monday, 17 August 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

For all of us in the Waterford Older People’s Council, Marion was far more than our Communications Officer. As a founding member of the Council, she played an important role in shaping who we are and how we connected with the wider Waterford community. From those earliest days, she brought her considerable experience as a journalist, communicator and champion of community life to our work.

Having spent many years with the Waterford News & Star, Marion understood better than most the importance of telling people’s stories, listening to their concerns and ensuring that issues affecting our community were not overlooked. Her professional experience in journalism became a tremendous asset to the Older People’s Council, but for Marion communication was never simply about passing on information. It was about people; giving them a platform, ensuring they were listened to and helping their voices to be heard.

Marion was a passionate advocate for positive ageing. She understood that growing older was not about withdrawing from society, but about continuing to contribute, participate, enjoy life and have a say in the decisions that affect us. She believed strongly in empowering people to live full and active lives and recognised that our experience, knowledge and skills do not simply disappear when we retire. That belief was reflected in the enthusiasm and commitment she brought to everything she did.

Through her work with the Older People’s Council and Waterford’s wider Age Friendly programme, Marion helped ensure that the experiences and views of older people remained an important part of local conversations and decision-making. She was a familiar and enthusiastic presence at events organised with and for older people throughout Waterford, always ready to promote the work of the Council and encourage others to get involved.

Even in recent months, Marion continued to represent the Older People’s Council with pride. Earlier this year, she was delighted to represent us at a meeting with President Catherine Connolly; a fitting reflection of the importance she placed on ensuring that older people had a voice and were represented at every level of public life.

Those who worked alongside Marion will remember her fondly. She had the instincts of a journalist; curious, observant and genuinely interested in people. She had a wonderful understanding of the importance of community and knew that sometimes a phone call, a conversation, a photograph, a newspaper article or simply a few carefully chosen words could make a real difference.

But Marion’s contribution cannot be measured only by the articles she wrote, the events she attended or the work she carried out on behalf of the Council. It can be measured in the people she encouraged, the connections she made and the confidence she helped give to others. She brought strength, energy and a generous community spirit to everything she undertook.

Her contribution is now part of the history of the Waterford Older People’s Council and the foundations she helped build will continue to benefit older people in Waterford for years to come. We have lost not only a founding member and trusted Communications Officer, but a colleague who became a friend and a wonderful ambassador for older people in our community.

Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Marion’s husband Jim, her daughter Jennifer, her son-in-law Eoin, her adored grandchildren Niamh and Aoife, her brothers Michael and Thomas, her sister Bridget and all her extended family and friends.

We hope they will take some comfort from knowing how greatly Marion was valued and respected by so many people throughout Waterford and beyond. We will miss her voice, her friendship, her presence around the Council table and at the many events where she worked so tirelessly. We will miss her enthusiasm, her kindness and her wonderful ability to bring people together. Above all, we will miss Marion herself.

From all of us at the Waterford Older People’s Council, thank you, Marion, with the deepest gratitude for all you gave to Waterford and to the many people whose lives you touched. Your strength, determination, generosity and belief in the value of every person made a real and lasting difference. Your voice may now be silent, but the impact of your work, your friendship and your commitment will remain with us.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.

Rest peacefully, Marion. You will never be forgotten.