Retired district court judge, John Garavan (77 ), a native of Castlebar, was laid to rest on Tuesday morning, following a long illness.
Born in Castlebar, he was educated at St Gerald’s College, and at Blackrock College, Dublin. After graduating in law and politics from University College Dublin, he trained to be a solicitor. He qualified in 1956 and returned to Mayo shortly after to set up a practice in Castlebar.
In 1981 he was appointed as a district court judge, and he served mainly in the Galway District Court area until he retired in 2003.
A Fine Gael member of Castlebar Town Council, Garavan served as chairman from 1970 to 1971. He was also involved in the Irish Lawn Tennis Association and was former president and captain of Castlebar Golf Club.
Judge Garavan is survived by his wife, Ann, sons Mark, Eoin and Hugh, and daughter Jeananne.
His funeral Mass was held at the Church of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar and he was laid to rest in Castlebar Old Cemetery.
Tributes were paid to him at Castlebar District Court on Wednesday morning.
