Passing of former Mayo councillor Padraic Gavin mourned

SWINFORD is mourning the passing of a pillar of the local community with the death of Padraic Gavin, Park Road.

A former member of Mayo County Council, Padraic gave many years of sterling service to east Mayo, through his work as a teacher, as an elected representative and his various voluntary commitments.

Paying tribute to him, Minister of State Dara Calleary said: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former councillor Padraic Gavin.

“Padraic was a wonderful servant of Mayo and of Swinford in many fields.

“Public service was at his core, be that serving generations of students in his classrooms, serving the people of Mayo and Swinford as a councillor from 1983 to 1991 and serving his local community in the many organisations to which he gave his considerable talents to over his lifetime.

“He was a wonderful source of advice and counsel to me and many other public representatives - advice which was always wise and thoughtful but delivered humbly. I will miss that advice but seek to uphold his and deliver on his ambitions for Mayo.

“Siobhán and I are thinking of his wonderful family in these dark days but hope that his legacy of achievements, service and faith will sustain them.”

Padraic was predeceased by his wife Attracta (nee Maye), baby daughter Mary, brother Brian and sisters Mary Lord and Bridge Taggart.

He is mourned by his family, Anthony, Pat, Margie, Marie, James, Joseph and Attracta, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, brothers Jack and Tony, sisters Kathleen, Lena and Ursula, his 23 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, extended family and many friends, to whom sympathy is extended on their great loss.

Padraic will repose in Campbell's Funeral Home, Swinford, on Sunday, August 6, from 4 to 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will take place on Monday at 12 noon in the Church of our Lady Help of Christians, Swinford, prior to burial in Kilconduff Cemetery.