Tributes paid to local people who left 'a massive legacy' in their communities
Dungarvan-Lismore councillors extended their condolences to the families of a number of community legends on their passing. Stock Image.
Councillors at the Dungarvan-Lismore District Council have paid tribute to a number of people who passed away recently but, in their lives, made huge contributions to their communities.
During the votes of sympathy at the January district council meeting, councillors extended their condolences to the families of Paul Clerkin, Mairead McGrath, Breda Power and Ned Ryan.
Cathaoirleach Niamh O’Donovan said that these people made huge contributions to their communities.
“Just to mention that in all the sympathies we mentioned today, all leave a massive legacy but also leave family members who have taken up the baton for and are doing trojan work in their communities and they will never be forgotten,” said Cllr O’Donovan.
Mairead McGrath (nee Murray) of New Chapel Street/ The Alcove, Mary Street, Dungarvan, passed away on Friday, January 2, 2026.
Her funeral took place on Monday, January 5, at St Mary’s Parish Church.
Cllr Damien Geoghegan proposed that the district send their condolences to Mairead’s family, saying she made an “enormous contribution to the community”.
“Mairead was a lady in her 90s and an absolute legend around Dungarvan. Very much synonymous with the Brickys Rangers club.
“She kept the club going during the very dark days in the 1970s, so the turnout at her funeral and both her removal and at her burial I think, goes just how much regard that Mairead was held in,” said Cllr Geoghegan.
Former Head of Finance at Waterford Council, Paul Clerkin of Rosina, Abbeyside, Dungarvan and formally of Clones, Monaghan, passed away on Christmas Eve.
His funeral took place at St Augustine’s Church, Abbeyside, on Monday, December 29.
Paul was a founding member of the Dungarvan Lions Trust, a trustee of the Waterford Festival of Food, a trustee of the daycare centre, a member of the Abbeyside Parish Council and a bord member of Ard Scoil na nDeise.
“I couldn’t even quantify the contribution Paul Clerkin made to the local community.
"He was a diligent public servant and a thorough gentleman. Anyone who had come across Paul in any way, shape or form would say the same thing,” said Cllr Geoghegan.
Cllr Tom Cronin said that when he started out at the council, Paul “was a great help to all the councillors around that time”.
Bridget (Breda) Power of Ballyclough, Carrick on Suir, passed away on Thursday, January 8.
Her funeral took place at St Molleran’s Church on Sunday, January 11.
Breda is the mother of Comeragh councillor Seanie Power.
Cllr Geoghegan proposed a vote of sympathy for Cllr Power and his family.
Ned Ryan of Vicarstown, Modeligo, Waterford, passed away on Friday, January 2.
His funeral took place on Friday, January 9, at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Modeligo.
Cllr Pat Nugent proposed a vote of sympathy to his family.
Cllr Geoghegan said that Ned was central to making the Local Link in Waterford one of the most successful bus companies in the country.
“A lot of other companies around the country have copied what was happening here in Waterford. And Ned Ryan was very much central to the success of the Local Link company here in Waterford.
“He was there from the start and he brought his vast experience as a bus driver to play as a committee member and he deserves enormous credit for the success we now see today of the Local Link Waterford,” said Cllr Geoghegan.
Cllr Thomas Phelan also supported the motion for himself and his colleague and chair of Local Link Waterford, John Pratt.
“Ned Ryan was a fellow director of local link along with us and a driving force behind it since its inception, a real character, a real gentleman and he will be sadly missed,” said Cllr Phelan.
Cathaoirleach Cllr O’Donovan said she would like to support all of the votes of sympathy, but especially the one to the family of her neighbour Ned Ryan, who she said “played a massive part in the community in Modeligo”.
