Former Tipperary businessman and town councillor Joe O'Connor passes away

Former Tipperary businessman and town councillor Joe Coleman O'Connor has passed away following an illness.

Mr O'Connor of Benedine and Tyone, Nenagh, died on Sunday, March 25, surrounded by his family in Milford Care Centre, Limerick.

Mr O'Connor was son of former Nenagh town and county councillor Joe O'Connor and Nora, who both ran successful businesses in the town.

Joseph Coleman was elected to Nenagh Town Council in 2004 as an Independent, following in his father's footsteps, and served two terms before bowing out when north and south Tipperary county councils were amalgamated in 2014.

He ran the Castle Hyperstore on Nenag's Pearse Street, for many years before joining Truly Irish Country Foods of Newcastle West in Limerick.

His brother, Donal, operates O'Connors Supermarket on Kenyon Street, which was previously run by his mother, Nora. Joe's father, Joseph, pioneered the supermarket business in Munster and operated O'Connors Suprmarket in Nenagh for decades.

Mr O'Connor of Kremisti, Benedine, Nenagh, passed away peacefully after a long illness bravely borne with great courage, full of optimism and endless hope, surrounded by his loving family, in the wonderful care of the staff of Milford Care Centre Limerick. He was predeceased by his parents Joseph and Nora O'Connor, (The Eagles, Tyone, Nenagh) and by his brother Peter.

Deeply regretted by his heartbroken family, his loving wife Sheila; his children Matthew, Rebecca and Gavin; Rebecca's partner Conor; his brothers Rory, Donal and Michael; sisters Agnes Holmes (Celbridge); Deirdre O'Connor (Windsor); Catherine Quinn (Thurles); Celestine Ward (Galway); Elizabeth Robertson (Nenagh), and Edel Ferncombe (Thurles); brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and many great wonderful friends, especially his lifelong friend Eamonn.

Reposing on Tuesday, March 28, at Ryan's Funeral Home, Nenagh (E45 KN93) from 5pm until 7pm, followed by removal to St Mary of the Rosary Church, Nenagh (E45 X522) arriving at 7.30pm. Funeral Mass on Wednesday at 11am, followed by burial in Monsea Cemetery (Ballycommon). Joe's Funeral Mass can be viewed on www.nenaghparish.ie