Death of popular and long serving councillor Jimmy O’Loughlin
The late councillor Jimmy O'Loughlin, front, and Michael McWey arriving at the offices of Kildare Council at St. Mary's by tandem in 1978. Photo: Oliver McCrossan.
One of Kildare’s longest serving county councillors in recent years, Jimmy O’Loughlin, has died.
He passed away after a short illness on Sunday morning, January 27.
From Cappanargid, Rathangan, he was first elected in to Kildare County Council on June 18, 1974. He was a member of Fianna Fail and was elected to the Kildare electoral area in each election he contested there after, 1979, 1985 and in 1991.
He was elected chairman of the council on three occasions, in 1984, 1989 and 1991. He retired from Kildare County Council in 1999.He was the second member of his family to serve as a County Councillor.
His father Joseph was a member of the first Kildare County Council back which first sat in the Grand Jury room of the County Courthouse in Naas, at 11am on a Saturday, April 22, 1899.
He was not elected to the council, but was a member by virtue of being the Chairman of the Rural District Council for Edenderry.
Jimmy’s daughter, Fiona, carries on the family tradition having been first elected in 1999 and retaining her seat in every subsequent election since then.
“Jimmy was the kind of man whom you could take to very easily,” retired Kildare County Council Director of Services Charlie Talbot told the Leinster Leader. “He was very likable and very easy to get along with.
“He had a great sense of humour, but he also had a great sense of fair play and was a very tenacious public representative.
“He was very loyal in his friendships. I remember that in particular,” Mr. Talbot said.
Kildare South Fianna Fáil TD Sean O Fearghail paid tribute to him as “a giant in Kildare politics over many decades. I was privileged to have served with Jimmy as a member of Kildare County Council and to have benefitted from his vast experience. I later served with his daughter Fiona, who has continued in the family tradition of exemplary public service. Jimmy also played a very prominent role in the business and social life of the county.”
And he offered his deepest condolences go the late councillor’s widow Mary and family on their loss.
Jimmy O’Loughlin is survived by his wife Mary, children Fiona, Sheelagh, Brian, Niall, Niamh, Ronan, Jim, Noelle, Cathal, Sinead and Conor, his grandchildren, sisters, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, brothers-in-law, and many, many friends.
He will be reposing at his home from 2pm today, Tuesday, January 29, until this evening at 6.30pm when he will be removed to the Church of the Assumption, Rathangan arriving for 7pm. Burial will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, after 11am Requiem Mass in St. Patrick’s Cemetery.
- Conor McHugh
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Naas, Ireland
Tuesday 18 June 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: West
