Sen Michael Mullins has paid tribute to former county manager Donal O’Donoghue, who died this week.
Mr O’Donoghue, a native of Killarney, served as county manager in Galway from 1994 to 2004. He had previously held a number of positions in local authorities around the country, including that of assistant Galway city and county manager from 1988 to 1993.
Sen Mullins, who served as a county councillor during Mr O’Donoghue’s tenure as county manager, this week extended his sympathies to Mr O’Donoghue’s wife Ann and his children Don and Shirley.
“Donal O’Donoghue was an outstanding public servant and a man of great wisdom and integrity,” Sen Mullins said. “He served with distinction in his many roles within local government during a career that spanned 41 years.
“I was honoured to have served as a member of Galway County Council during Donal’s tenure as manager. He was highly regarded by the members and he was always courteous, approachable, and helpful. He understood people’s problems, and he would always try to find a solution if you convinced him that the issue was genuine.
“He was a proud Kerryman, but as county manager he wanted the best for Galway. He worked hard to improve the infrastructure of the county, and his achievements are to be seen throughout the region. Donal will be remembered with great fondness by the many communities and organisations that he interacted with over the years.”
County councillors also paid tribute to Mr O’Donoghue at their meeting on Monday.
Mr O’Donoghue, who passed away in St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, on Saturday, will be buried in Killarney today (Thursday ).
Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dílis.