Farewell, Gerard

By MAURA WALSH CEO, IRD Duhallow

The Board, management and staff of IRD Duhallow were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Cllr Gerard Murphy on Monday last.

Gerard was one of the first Directors of IRD Duhallow, joining our Board in 1991 and serving two terms, and was the first ever County Councillor to do so. He did much to create links between the Council and the Board of IRD Duhallow which was the frontrunner of local development companies in the county.

Gerard was a regular visitor to the office of IRD Duhallow in the James O’Keeffe Institute. He was a huge advocate for local projects and was very supportive of our work in the area of Rural and Community Development as well as the Environment, Community Services and Local Enterprise.

The recognition of the special requirements of the Duhallow area as a unique development region in successive County Development Plans, was thanks in no small way to Gerards insight and ability to communicate the needs of the people and the region into

policy documents. Gerard was instrumental in getting exemptions from certain planning restrictions on rural housing and enterprise infrastructure for Duhallow and West Cork. In his time in the Dáil, Gerard invited several Ministers to visit IRD Duhallow and the region to see first hand the needs as well as strengths of the area. This resulted in strengthened investment.

We express our sympathy to Gerards family, his wife Marian, his daughter Trish, son Donncha, grandchildren Ethan and Maya, son in law Michael, and indeed the wider Newmarket community that will mourn his loss as well as the Cathaoirleach, Elected members of Cork County Council, the County Manager and Staff of Cork County Council.

Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís agus ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal

LCDC Members Cllr. Gerard Murphy and Cllr. Bernard Moynihan at the signing of the LEADER Contract for Kilguilkey House with IRD Duhallow CEO Maura Walsh and Board members Brian Kelly, Michael Twohig, and Anne Maria Bourke

Michael Moynihan, Sean Field, Louise Bourke and Gerard Murphy

Cllr. Gerard Murphy at the launch of IRD Duhallow’s LIFE Project with Pat Fitzpatrick, Fran Igoe, Aine Collins, Michael Twohig, Phil Hogan, Maura Walsh, and Michael Doyle