Tipperary County Council has paid tribute to Cllr Willie Kennedy who was killed in a road traffic collision last night.
Cllr Kennedy was struck by a car at around 8.30pm on the N80 at Dysart, Portlaoise. Cllr Kennedy was from Glastrigan in Borrisoleigh. He was first elected to the county council in 1985 and also served as Leas Cathaoirleach of the recently-formed Templemore-Thurles Municipal District. Cllr Kennedy was also a member of the Council’s Roads Strategic Policy Committee and served as Chairman of the Vocational Education Committee between 2009 and 2014. He was also part of the Team Lowry group.
Commenting today, the Chairman of the County Council Seamus Hanafin described Mr Kennedy as ‘a genuine, friendly colleague who was committed to representing the people of Tipperary’.
He went on to say that one of life’s gentlemen had been lost, adding that he had been ‘a good friend and a valued councillor, who was well liked by all who met him and well respected by all those who served him’. The Chief Executive of the council Joe McGrath spoke of how ‘the hearts of all those in the council go out to Mr Kennedy’s family and friends at this very sad time’.
He went on to say that ‘his death will be a huge loss to his many friends and colleagues in the council and his community’.
