RIP: Long serving Longford councillor remembered as ‘a wonderful man’ and ‘great worker’

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The late Séamus Finnan, who served as a member of Longford County Council for over three decades, has been remembered as ‘a wonderful man’ and ‘great worker’.

Séamus of Kilnasavogue, Longford town and formerly of Churchlands, Longford, Co Longford, passed to his eternal reward, peacefully surrounded by his family at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar on Sunday, January 11, 2026. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO

A lifelong farmer on the outskirts of Longford town, Fine Gael stalwart Séamus worked tirelessly on behalf of the people he represented.

He was first elected to Longford County Council in 1967 and served on the local authority up until 1999 when he opted to depart public life. 

In all, Séamus was successful in five consecutive local elections - 1967, 1974, 1979, 1985 and 1991 - in the Longford town electoral area. The five other candidates elected in the Longford area in that ‘91 election were Philo Kelly, Mae Sexton, Peter Kelly, Michael Nevin and Peter Murphy. 

Also read: RIP: Much sadness in Longford as dedicated Granard politician and county’s first ever female Mayor dies

Séamus, who had great love of local history, served a spell as Chairperson of the County Animal Health Committee and he was also a member of the former Midland Health Board and Longford Vocational Education Committee.

He contested three general elections - 1969, 1982 (Nov) and 1987 -  in the Longford - Westmeath constituency on the Fine Gael ticket. In ‘69 his FG running mates were Gerry L’Estrange (elected), Paddy Cooney and Tom Kilbride. 

In the ‘87 general election, Séamus secured the fifth highest first preference vote among the candidates in the race but that wasn’t sufficient to secure a Dáil seat as the four seats were filled by his party colleague Paddy Cooney and three Fianna Fáil candidates Albert Reynolds, Henry Abbott and Mary O’Rourke. 

The late Séamus Finnan was predeceased by his loving wife Kathleen, parents Mel and Rose, sisters Rosaleen Dennigan and Patsy McCormack, brother Packie and by his nephew James McCormack.

He will be sadly missed and remembered with love by James, Patrick, Margaret, Rosemary, Ann and Catriona Dennigan and by Tomas, Aidan, Enda, Niall and Deirdre McCormack, brothers-in-law, cousins, relatives and friends. May he rest in peace.

Reposing at Glennon’s Funeral Home, Ballinalee Road (N39 EC81) on Wednesday, January 14 from 6pm concluding with prayers at 8pm. 

Mass of the Resurrection takes place on Thursday, January 15 in St Mel’s Cathedral at 11am, interment afterwards in Ballymacormack cemetery. 

The Funeral Mass will be streamed live HERE. Family flowers only please donations if desired to the Irish Heart Foundation HERE. House private please.

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