There is much sadness throughout Longford following news of the death of dedicated Granard politician and the county’s first ever female Mayor, Maura Kilbride-Harkin. The pioneering and long serving Fine Gael stalwart, Mrs Kilbride-Harkin of Cartron, Granard, Co Longford, died peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family, on Friday, January 9. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO She represented the people of Granard electoral area on Longford County Council from 1985 to 2009 and in 1995/’96 she had the huge honour of becoming the county’s first ever female Mayor (County Council Chairperson). Maura was successful in the County Council elections of 1985, 1991, 1999 and 2004, and she also contested the local elections of 2009 and 2014 but narrowly failed to secure a seat on both those occasions. Steeped in politics and a daughter of the late Senator Tom Kilbride, Maura was a hard working member of Granard Town Council for the best part of three decades and in 2014, the year which saw the abolition of Urban District and Town councils, she was Mayor of Granard. Indeed, her final engagement as Granard Mayor was the official opening of Granard Market House community library. Maura was involved in several local committees including the Granard Agricultural Show, Granard Christmas Lights Committee, Longford & Westmeath Education and Training Board and the board of management of Ardscoil Phádraig, Granard where her energy and diligence was admired by all. In 1985, Maura was the only female representative elected to Longford County Council and in 2004, the last occasion she was elected to the local authority she was joined in the Chamber by her party colleague Peggy Nolan. Cllr Nolan, who has now successfully contested five consecutive local elections (‘04, ‘09, 2014, ‘19 and 2024), said Maura’s ‘passion and ability was an example to any woman who wants to go into political life’. Former Longford County Councillor, Granard Town Councillor and Peace Commissioner, Maura Kilbride-Harkin was
RIP: Much sadness in Longford as dedicated Granard politician and county’s first ever female Mayor dies
Fine Gael’s Maura Kilbride-Harkin served on Longford County Council from 1985 to 2009 and in 1995/’96 became the county’s first ever female Mayor
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Caption: Granard Christmas Lights switch on 2016 - At the switching on of the 2016 Christmas Lights in Granard were Maura Kilbride Harkin, Cllr PJ Reilly and Fiona Macken. Photo by Shelley Corcoran
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Caption: March 2018 - At the opening of the the new Science and Autism Building at Ardscoil Phádraig, Granard were front row l to r; Mary Sharkey, Deputy Principal Bríd Nevin, Chairperson of the BoM Maura Kilbride Harkin and Jane Reilly. Back; John Maguire, Principal Garrett Buckley, Cllr PJ Reilly, Cllr Micheál Carrigy and Fr Simon Cadam. Photo: Michelle Ghee
