Ff leader pays tribute to former mayo news editor sean staunton

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has paid tribute to Sean Staunton, former editor of The Mayo News and a stalwart of the Fianna Fáil party, who died yesterday.

The current chairman of Mayo Fianna Fáil, Sean was a member of Westport Town Council for 37 years (chairman on eight occasions) and a member of Mayo VEC, and was deeply involved in many community organisations in Westport.

Early in his journalistic career Sean worked with The Connaught Telegraph.

Said Deputy Martin: “I was deeply saddened to hear about the death of Sean Staunton. He was a stalwart of our party for the past 40 years and was a very dedicated councillor for his local community in Westport.

“I always admired Sean's honesty and hard work for Fianna Fáil. He had the great ability to have cross party support for his innovative ideas for Westport for many decades. He was admired by many for his personal and political integrity.”

Mayo Deputy Dara Calleary said of his party colleague: “Sean was an absolute gentlemen for whom the traits of honour and integrity were at his very core - personally, politically and professionally.

“He was passionate about many things in life but the development of Westport was one of his life's absolute missions and the Westport of today owes much of its tourism, business, cultural and civic success to the vision of a small group of people, at whose heart was Sean.

“He was proud to be a member of the Fianna Fáil party but his hallmark on Westport Town Council was putting on the Westport jersey before any other. Seán was a Westport Tourism pioneer, an experience which he put to wider use during his time on the board of Ireland West Tourism.

“He was passionate about education and served as a member of Mayo VEC for many years, during which time he was involved in the expansion of schools and course offerings across the county, especially in the area of adult and second chance education.

“He oversaw the development of the Mayo News in to not only one of Ireland's finest papers but also one of Europe’s. A talented and passionate journalist in his own right, he fostered and nurtured the careers of many of the journalists who are household names across this county and country today. It is testament to his dedication to the paper and to his professionalism that he worked right up until illness prevented him.

“It was a privilege to have known him, to have served with him and to have been guided by him.”

Sean is survived by his wife Sal and daughters Reine, Sarah and Leone.

His funeral takes place today and tomorrow.