This article is from page 20 of the 2011-06-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
THE huge contribution made by Tomás Mac Cormaic to the development of Shannon over many years has been recalled after the sudden death of the former Town Clerk last week.
The Kilkishen native, who was 76 years of age when he died suddenly last Tuesday, served as Shannon Town Clerk for 27 years between the advent of Shannon Town Commission in 1982 until his retirement in 2009.
At his funeral mass on Friday, Shannon parish priest Fr Tom Hogan described Tomás as “the man who owned Shannon”. Those were the words used by one of his grandchildren in the immediate aftermath of his death and were affectionately recalled to the hundreds who turned out to pay their last respects.
Tributes in Clare have been led by former Mayor of Clare and Shannon, Cllr Patricia McCarthy, who worked with Mr Mac Cormaic throughout his 27 years as Town Clerk.
“Even before he became Town Clerk, he would have been involved in a lot of community committees and activities,” said Cllr McCarthy. “He brought his knowledge of the town and the community into the Town Commissioners. He made a hugely positive and crucial contribution to Shannon.
“There was no history of elected representatives in the town, no history of how local government would work in the town. Tomás played a vital role with councillors of weaning Shannon away from being run by a semi-state company and helping the town taking charge of our own destiny,” she added.
These tributes were echoed by Senator Tony Mulcahy, who also served as Mayor of Shannon and Clare during Mr Mac Cormaic’s time in local government.
“In his 27 years as Town Clerk he never missed a meeting,” said Senator Mulcahy. “That tells you about him. He was totally committed to his family, his work and his friends. Tomás was one of the father figures within the town. He was a Commissioner of Oaths and a Peace Commissioner, so he engaged with a huge number of people in the Shannon Community.
“He made a huge contribution to the development of the town. He was always the great man for a solid word. He was available to the community 24/7 – that’s the man he was for Shannon,” Senator Mulcahy added.
Mr Mac Cormaic is survived by his nine children, Padraig, Máire, Cathal, Ciaran, Áine, Eimear, Eithne, Eoin and Gearóíd, his brothers Máirtín, Micheál and Noel, sisters Josie and Margaret; sons-in-law, daughters-inlaw and 12 grandchildren.
Mr Mac Cormaic’s remains were removed to Mary Immaculate Church in Shannon last Thursday, while the funeral mass took place on 12 noon on Friday with burial afterwards in Lemenagh Cemetery.