'Tireless champion' for community on Laois Council passes away

The death has occurred of Camross native Michael Laor, who served the people of Laois on Laois County Council over a five-decade span.

Michael Laor, a public representative from the late 1970s to 2014, died peacefully on Saturday, October 31, surrounded by his loving family in the Clonmacnoise ward at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore.

Late of Cardtown, Camross and formerly Northgrove, he is predeceased by his parents Fintan and Mary, his wife Mary, daughter Bridget, son Michéal, granddaughter Mary Teresa, siblings Mary, Dan, Peter, Dinny, Paddy, Fint, Lizzie and Jimmy.

The former Coillte employee is deeply regretted by his daughter Mary, sons Fintan and Pat, grandchildren Michelle, Sheila, Michael P, James, Polly and Michéal, Michael P’s partner Chloe, great-granddaughter Rosie, son-in-law Michael, daughters-in-law Judy and Linda, brother-in-law Paddy, nieces, nephews, extended family, relatives and friends.

Mr Lalor was first elected to represent the Tinnahinch electoral area in County Hall in the 1979 local elections. The other Fine Gael councillors to be returned for the area in that election were the recently deceased David Goodwin and the former Laois TD and Minister Oliver J Flanagan.

He was narrowly defeated in the next election in 1985, when future Fianna Fáil TD John Moloney topped the poll on his first attempt. Mr Lalor was squeezed out by four votes for the fifth of five seats by Joe Digan.

Undaunted, the Camross man returned to County Hall after the 1991 election, when he was re-elected to represent Tinnahinch, an election that saw Charlie Flanagan contest his first local election following the death of his father, Oliver J.

Mr Lalor retained his seat at the 1999 election when he contested the Borris-in-Ossory electoral area. While the move meant he did not have to face Mr Flanagan and Mr Moloney, he did have to face Fianna Fáil TD Seán Fleming, who was contesting his first local election. The future Fianna Fáil senator also contested the same electoral area in 1999.

The Fine Gael man successfully contested the 2004 and 2009 local elections. He was comfortably returned in both polls.

However, his political career ended in the 2014 local elections after the realignment of the Laois electoral areas when local authorities were downsized by the Government. Mr Lalor narrowly lost out on the last of the six seats to party colleague David Goodwin in the new Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District. More below photo.

Outside politics, he was a Coillte employee. During his time with the State-owned forestry company, he held the position of worker-director on the Coillte board, having been nominated by the trade union SIPTU.

He was active in many local organisations, including the GAA and the Camross Community Development Association. He was also an active member of the Lalor Clan, attending the annual clan gathering. He remained active in the community and launched the Camross Development Plan in 2019.

His contribution and continued work after politics were reflected in a tribute by his Fine Gael colleague Cllr Conor Bergin.

“I am very sorry to learn of Mick Lalor’s passing. Mick was a great champion of Camross and County Laois all his life. As a Laois County Councillor for over 40 years he tirelessly worked and advocated for the needs of Camross, Coolrain, Ballaghmore, Borris-In-Ossory, Mountrath and surrounding areas.

“When I first ran for Local Elections in 2019, I sought Mick’s help, and he was a huge support to me over the years.

“Even since Mick’s retirement as a Laois County Councillor in 2014, he continued to keep a close eye on matters locally. He was delighted to see many of the projects he supported for years in the Camross area come to fruition, such as the Fr John Lalor Community Complex. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

“My deepest condolences and sympathies are with Mick’s family, his children Mary, Fintan and Pat, his grandchildren and the wider Lalor family. May Mick rest in peace,” said the councillor who represents the Borris / Mountmellick MD.

Former Minister and Laois Fine Gael TD also paid tribute on his party colleague’s passing.

“The sadness and grief at the passing of Michel Lalor extends far beyond his beloved Slieve Bloom and Camross to friends and colleagues right across Laois and Offaly. A true champion of rural values, Michael spent his life advocating for and implementing plans for a greater quality of life in rural areas, whether in Laois as a long-time member of Laois County Council or across rural Ireland as a Director of Collite, the state forestry agency.

“Michael Lalor is a legend in his beloved Camross, where he spent his life immersed in community affairs, GAA and Fine Gael. As a Fine Gael member of Laois County Council for decades, he worked tirelessly for the Slieve Bloom area, ensuring many projects were brought to fruition, bringing infrastructural benefits for the area and spearheading many local proposals and community projects. Michael kept his best voice and was always in top form during the many years Camross were crowned County hurling winners. He was never shy in letting his Council colleagues know who were champions.

“At Council level, Michael was a strong voice for the Slieve Bloom area, ensuring in every debate that Camross, Coolrain, Killenure and Paddock were well catered for. Michael was a powerful advocate for rural jobs in difficult times and worked hard for forestry development across the area. The fruits of his work are to be seen to this day in community projects in his area.

“He was a loyal and committed Fine Gael party member actively engaged locally in Laois/Offaly and also nationally through membership of the party Trade Union group. I offer condolences to his family, Fint. Mary and Pat and the wider Lalor family at this time of sadness and grief.

“Camross may have lost one of its greats, but the legend of Michael Lalor lives on,” said the former minister.

Former Fine Gael councillor John Bonham also paid tribute.

“So sorry to hear of Michael's passing. A good friend and was a pleasure to have known. Such an honourable and dependable man,” said Mr Bonham on RIP.ie

Funeral arrangements will be published later.