Cllrs pay tribute to Michael McDonagh

Michael McDonagh was a great advocate of the Traveller community and a tireless worker for the progress of Traveller rights throughout his life and career, Sinn Fein Cllr Eddie Fennessy said during tributes to a number of deceased persons at a Meath County Council meeting this week.

He was a renowned story teller and custodian of Traveller history and culture and ensuring that the Traveller way of life from years past was understood and respected by younger generations. He was a founder and board member on national and international organisations, the National Council for Traveller people , the Traveller Prison Initiative Steering Group, chairperson of the National Traveller Partnership and chairperson of the Meath Traveller Workshop, Cllr Fennessy said. He expressed his sympathy to the McDonagh and Nevin families on their great loss.

Cllr Padraig Fitzsimons described Mr McDonagh as a very progressive Navan man, someone who had done wonderful things for Traveller rights. He was very active on the St Ptrick’s Day parade and in the Navan workshop. He also paid tribute to the late Larry Boyle who had had long associations with the business community in Navan and had been a member of the Navan Chamber of Commerce. He also paid tribute to the amily of the late John Smyth, retired publican, who had had associations with many organisations in Navan. They were joined in these tributes by Cllrs Noel French and Alan Lawes.

The Council meeting administrator Robert Collins also read out sympathy expressions to the families of Bernadette Martin; Amanda Brady, Raymond Hoey (father of Senator Annie Hoey), John O’Donoghue (former town clerk Navan) and his wife Maire on the death of their daughter Deirdre, Claire King (corporate services MCC) on the death of her mother Bernie, Alison Boyle (former Mayor of Navan) on the death of her father Larry Boyle, and former emplouee Liz Dowdall on the death of her father Paddy Gibney.

Cllr Sarah Reilly expressed sympathy with the family of Amanda Brady on her untimely passing. She had been an extremely valuable member of staff at Kells Swimming Pool. Cllr Tom Behan expressed sympathy to the family of the late Eileen Rushe, Termonfeckin and Bettystown who had fought bravely to raise awareness of cervical cancer.

He was joined in these tributes by Cllr Sharon Tolan. She said that ms Rushe had “taken up the mantle” on cervical cancer awareness and was a great campaigner for the HPV vaccine.