Tributes to hardworking, engaged former Longford councillor Séamus Finnan

The late Séamus Finnan, who served as a member of Longford County Council for over three decades, has been remembered as ‘a 'well respected' and engaged politician who was a ‘great worker’.

Mr Finnan of Kilnasavogue, Longford town and formerly of Churchlands, Longford, passed to his eternal reward, peacefully surrounded by his family at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar on Sunday, January 11, 2026.

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

Mr Finnan 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, he 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.

Longford TD Micheál Carrigy paid a warm tribute to his late party colleague Séamus Finnan.

"His finger was on the pulse about what was happening and that is the job of public representatives, to advocate on behalf of their constituents to local government.

"He was well respected and worked hard for his constituents and I think that shows in the number of times that he was elected to Longford County Council.

“You need to be involved, engaged and advocating on behalf of your constituents and that is something he did with distinction."

"He was always a good man to give political advice, he had far more years experience than I had."

Deputy Carrigy said Séamus was highly regarded.

"He served the party well and he continued to support the party after he finished up himself as a county councillor.”

As a councillor he 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.

Cllr Finnan 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, Cllr Finnan 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.

Councillor Finnan showed significant support for the local authority's efforts to restore the 200 year-old Longford Courthouse.
Cllr Finnan, a strong advocate of the courthouse refurbishment, personally paid for a feasability report on the idea.

Deputy Carrigy said it showed his drive and determination to see progress.

"It shows his commitment to the project, to make sure it was done.

"Potentially that project wouldn't have been State funded when it was at the time if that hadn't been carried out."

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Mr 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 he is survived 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.

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