Tributes have flowed in for former county councillor and local politician Dessie Larkin.
Mr Larkin, who was originally from Letterkenny but was living near Newmills, passed away suddenly at his home on Monday morning.
Mr Larkin is survived by his wife Mary, four children and a wide circle of family and friends.
Minister Joe McHugh paid tribute to the man who both entered local politics on the same day.
He said “I want to pay my respects on the sad passing of Dessie Larkin who passed away suddenly today. I was shocked to hear the news and I know how devastating this must be for Mary and Danielle, Courtney, James and Matthew and extended family.
“We both entered the Donegal County Council chamber 20 years ago on the 11th of June 1999.
“Dessie’s passion for his native Letterkenny and county was always top of his political agenda. And he was always a big advocate in promoting the arts, heritage and language of Donegal.
“I always valued and admired Dessie’s company, good banter and positivity. But most of all I valued his friendship. And during those times he always talked about his family and how much they all meant to him.
“Ag smaoineamh oraibh anocht. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís.”
A spokesperson for Letterkenny Chamber said Mr Larkin was so dedicated to the town form which he was from.
“It is with great sadness and shock that we have learnt of the untimely and sudden death of Dessie Larkin. Dessie was a proud and passionate Letterkenny man and was dedicated and enthusiastic about the town he loved.
“He will be sadly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Mary, his children and wider family circle. May he rest in peace.”
Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin has extended his sympathies to Dessie’s family.
Deputy Martin said, “I would like to extend my sympathies and those of the entire Fianna Fáil Party to the family and friends of Dessie Larkin on his untimely passing. This is an extremely difficult time for Dessie’s family and our thoughts are with them.
“Dessie was a proud Donegal and Letterkenny man. He served on Letterkenny Town Council and on Donegal County Council and he also held the positions of Mayor and Cathaoirleach.
“Dessie was the quintessential community activist and supported all efforts to improve and enhance the town and county. He enjoyed his life of public service and worked very hard for those he represented.
“I want to extend my condolences to Dessie’s wife Mary, their family and all of his friends. I know the community in Letterkenny will be feeling his loss.”
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dhílis.”
Cllr Seamus O’Domhnaill, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council said “On behalf of Donegal County Council I would like to convey our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the late Dessie Larkin.
“Dessie was a great member, diligent and articulate. He was a proud Letterkenny man but a great Donegal man. He was both Mayor of Letterkenny and of Donegal and we as a county will be the poorer for not having Dessie with us.”
“It is with great sadness and shock that we have learnt of the untimely and sudden death of Dessie Larkin.
“Dessie was a proud and passionate Letterkenny man and was dedicated and enthusiastic about the town he loved. He will be sadly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Mary, his children and wider family circle. May he rest in peace.”
Fianna Fáil Donegal County Councillor, Ciaran Brogan, has paid tribute to his former party colleague, Dessie Larkin, who passed away suddenly at his home in Letterkenny on Monday morning.
Cllr Brogan, who is the Fianna Fáil party whip on Donegal County Council, said the town of Letterkenny and the entire county is in a huge state of shock and sadness.
“Dessie and myself were both elected on to Letterkenny Town Council in June 1999. Dessie had been co-opted on to the council following the death of his father, James, in September 1998 and was also elected on to Donegal County Council in June 1999. He served both councils with honour and distinction before stepping down from political life in 2014 when he decided not to seek re-election,” Cllr Brogan said.
“Dessie brought a great energy to the councils and to all the different organisations he was involved with over the years. He was chairman of Donegal Sports Partnership and brought all his sporting experience to that role. Donegal Sports Partnership has grown to become an extremely important body in society and he was instrumental in its success, given his roles on the council and in the VEC – now the ETB – at the time,” he added.
“It might be five years since Dessie served as a public representative, but he left a lasting legacy in so many parts of Letterkenny, his home town which he had such a passion for. There were many contentious issues that had to be dealt with during his time as a councillor and he played a huge role in the decisions the councils took.
“The development of the Cathedral Carpark, the development of the old mart site, the provision of the Aura Leisure Centre and the construction of the Ballymacool Town Park all happened when Dessie was at the cut and thrust of local politics. All the local major infrastructual projects didn’t come easy. They came because hard decisions were taken by the council and Dessie was never afraid to take hard decision in the best interest of the town and its people. The success and the growth of the town were always at the top of his agenda.
“Whether it was the VEC, the Joint Policing Committeee or the Donegal Sports Partnership, Dessie gave it everything. He was chairman of Letterkenny Town Council and went on to become Donegal County Council Chairman. His knowledge of local government was second to none. When the history of Letterkenny is written, his fingerprints will be rightly associated with all of the positive developments that happened when he was elected to serve his people.”
Cllr Brogan added: “This is an extremely difficult time for his family. They are shocked and devastated by the loss of Dessie who was such a fine ambassador for Letterkenny and Donegal. Our immediate thoughts and prayers are with his wife Mary, children Courtney, Danielle, James and Matthew, his mother Elieen, brother Ciaran, sisters Carla and Alison, the extended McCool and Larkin families and with his large circle of relatives and friends.”
Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher Leas Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Eireann has extended his sympathies to the family of the late Dessie Larkin, whose sudden and untimely death Monday has sent an unbelievable shock and numbness right throughout the county.
He said “I knew and worked closely with Dessie in the past and I always found him to be a capable and most effective politician, he was a firm advocate for his constituents and a passionate Letterkenny man through and through.
“Dessie was first elected to Donegal County Council in 1999, having previously been co-opted onto Letterkenny Town Council in place of his late father James, who was a long-time member of the Town Council and served as Town Mayor on numerous occasions.
“Dessie was a most active and effective local Councillor, having served on various strategic committees of the Council and then serving as Mayo of the County in addition to being Mayor of Letterkenny. He was a great advocate of supporting Letterkenny Town expansion, properly planning for the ever-expanding future of the town, supporting businesses in the town and the provision of social housing and proper infrastructure for the Town and surrounding areas. Dessie was also a long serving member of Donegal VEC and served as its Chairperson also.
“I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to his wife Mary, their children Danielle, Courtney, James and Matthew, to his mother Eileen and his brothers and sisters. No words will ever convey the extent of their loss on this sad occasion, a life cut short is always difficult to comprehend and understand but comfort can be taken from the outpouring of the people, and the recognition that in his life Dessie made a massive contribution to his area and that will remain his lasting legacy.
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