‘Life is so fragile’ - Donegal MD tribute to late Councillor Noreen McGarvey

Donegal Municipal District (MD), Fianna Fáil Cllr Micheál Naughton spoke of the “fragility of life” as he recalled the recent passing of his party colleague, Cllr Noreen McGarvey who was a serving councillor representing the Glenties Municipal District.

Cllr McGarvey passed away peacefully on December 28, at just 52 years of age, after an illness and was herself a former Cathaoirleach of the adjoining Glenties MD, having first been first elected in 2019.   

Cllr Naughton said that as a party colleague, he wished to pay tribute to her dedication and huge contribution to her local community and the wider people of Donegal as he remarked that her passing “just shows how cruel life can be”.

“She did not get to see her full term served and this shows just how life is so fragile. She worked very hard for many years and behind the scenes, long before she was elected to Donegal County Council.”

He noted that her contributions had been noted for over two decades, much of it working diligently behind the scenes, but becoming more public, after her election as a county councillor.  

He said that he first got to know the late Cllr McGarvey in his early political days, working alongside Pat the Cope Gallagher and while he had been aware that she was unwell in recent times, many, including himself, had not realised how unwell, she was, so it had been “a huge shock” when her passing was announced.    

He said that on behalf of himself and all those within his party in the south of the county, he would like to put it on record their “profound and heartfelt sympathies” on her passing, especially to daughter Amy, parents Susie and Seamus, brother Declan, sisters Debbie and Colette as well as the wider McGarvey family.

“She was just 52 years of age with a lot more to give still but you never know from one day to the next, what can happen. She went long before her time.”

Leas Cathaoirleach, Sinn Féin Cllr Michael McMahon, speaking on behalf of his colleagues on the Donegal MD added:

“ All of us would like to be associated with those comments.”