The Late Bernie Daly A vote of sympathy on the loss of Councillor Bernie Daly, who died on Wednesday February 23rd, were passed unanimously at a special meeting of Skibbereen Town Council. Called last Thursday evening by Cathaoirleach, Mr Brendan Leahy, sympathy was extended by all members and staff present to Cllr. Daly's widow, Nan; his three sons, Paul, Niall and Brian, and to his extended family. Mr Leahy said: "I have known Cllr. Daly for the past twenty-one years, during which time he was very much a father figure. I worked with him in the outdoor staff and it has been a privilege to serve with him on this council. "He has served Skibbereen and its community very well over the last eleven years. He will be a sad loss to the town and to the council, and of course, his family." Other councillors spoke warmly and affectionately of Mr. Daly as a man who worked tirelessly for the town. Mrs Catherine O'Keeffe said: "He did not offend anybody, but he made no apology inside this council chamber to get the work done and certainly made his point. "Bernie's career was a very colourful one being in the army in Collins Barracks, in the FCA and he served in the Congo, Cyprus and Lebanon, with distinction. He was recognised as being a man of discipline." Mr Donal McCarthy endorsed the words of the other councillors, saying that he had known Bernie since he first came to the town in 1966. He said Cllr. Daly was a trusted GAA referee, who stuck to a decision once made and stood for what he believed in. Mr McCarthy added: "Bernie put a lot of thought and background work into everything. He was in the AMAI for ten years and was to be one of the future presidents of the association." Mr Joe Carroll spoke of the great respect Cllr. Daly commanded and of his great pride in being elected three times to the council. Mr Carroll said: "I would like to sympathise with the family, they are missing a great husband and a great father and he is going to be a great loss to this council. He was a great man with humour." Other councillors spoke of Bernie Daly as "a big man in every sense of the word" and Mr Adrian Healy said: "The town has suffered a lot of loss recently, but the loss of Cllr. Daly to the town will be immense. I feel very down and out to know that Cllr Daly has left us." Mr Richard Carthy offered his deepest sympathy to Nan Daly and family and spoke of meeting Bernie in the last 1960s in the FCA. He said: "He was always a gentleman and he wore a uniform and his chain of office with great pride. "In his position as chairman, there was nothing that he would not attend and he prided himself in attending everything he was invited to attend. He was a big man but inside that big frame was a soft-hearted gentleman. He is a great loss to the town. "He took very seriously his role as a councillor and we know that he had very strong views as regards security of the State. He held very strong forthright views on the army, police and subversives. I personally, will miss him very much." Mr Brendan McCarthy spoke of Mr. Daly's kindness, saying: "He was a man who gave me advice and I am very sad that I was just getting to know him. He will be sadly missed." Mr Donnchadh O Seaghdha, although unable to attend the meeting, also extended his sympathies. Town Manager Mr Jack Matson, spoke on behalf of the people who worked with him, saying Mr. Daly was a tremendous chairman who had great pride in the council. Particular highlights mentioned were the opening of the new fire station, the Special Olympics and the day Brigadier General Nash visited the council chamber. Mr Naill O'Mahony offered his sympathies on behalf of the engineering staff in the courthouse, saying: "I firmly believe he was one of the best councillors that I have worked with. The one word that strikes me about Bernie is that he was very thoughtful. He always came to the right decision and was very proud of his town." Town Clerk, Ms Noreen Murphy, spoke of the great respect and esteem in which Cllr. Daly was held as a very honourable person. Mr James Dwyer, Town Engineer, declared Mr. Daly to be " a man of honour and integrity, who will certainly be a big loss to the people of Skibbereen and the council." Mr. Seamus Barry, on behalf of the architects department of Cork County Council said of Cllr Daly, "Bernie was a very nice colleague to meet when I came to Skibbereen. He would come into the office in the morning and there always would be humour. "One day last August, in the town car park, he was standing in full regalia with Ray Ban sunglasses and I thought that he looked like a Brigadier General. He had great respect for his fellow councillors. " He was a great character and it is a sad day for all of us. We were honoured to have walked parallel with him," he concluded. By Carol Gilbert Courtesy of the Southern Star 4th March 2005 Tweet

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