Tributes paid to former Offaly councillor and stalwart of farming community

TRIBUTES have been paid to former councillor and stalwart of the farming community, Michael Fox who passed away on Tuesday night.

Michael, from Kilmurry between Daingean and Tullamore, was in his early eighties and had been ill for sometime.

A former fine Gael councillor, the deceased was also instrumental in the revival of Tullamore Show and served as chairman of the executive committee for a number of years.

He was also a long-serving chairman of the show's Commercial Cattle section and his energy and enthusiasm ensured it became the premier section of its kind in the county.

The Kilmurry man was an experienced cattle judge and took part in agricultural shows and mart events across the island of Ireland.

In his youth and middle years he was a keen sports man and played both football and hurling with Daingean.

He won countyfootball championships with St Colman's, an outfit formed from the Cappincur side of Daingean parish – he won his first county medal with that team when he was just 18. He also won an intermediate county title with St Colman's.

The Kilmurry man played senior football with Daingean in the midfield and half back positions and was part of the team which won the county senior title in 1965.

He was also deeply involved in Macra na Feirme and played a pivotal role in bringing the Queen of the Land festival to Tullamore, where it is still staged.

Michael represented Macra on the first ever Golden Vale Mart committee and remained involved with the mart in Tullamore throughout his life.

He was national chairman of GVM marts in 2002 and also spent a period as national chairman of the Associated Livestock Mart body.

He successfully stood for Fine Gael in the local elections in 1979 and represented both the Tullamore and Edenderry areas until 2009.

He stood unsuccessfully as part of “Garret's team” in the two general elections in 1982 and garnered over 5,000 votes on one occasion.

The highlight of his time in politics was his term as chairman of Offaly County Council in 1994-'95 when the county won the senior hurling title in a dramatic victory over Limerick.

Paying tribute to the deceased his former Fine Gael council colleague, Tommy McKeigue said Michel was respected across the political spectrum.

“He was a honourable man who was always amenable to people,” said the former councillor.

Funeral arrangements to follow later.