Sympathy extended to Smollen family at Tullamore Municipal District Meeting

SYMPATHY was extended to Councillor Ken Smollen on the death of his father Joe at the May meeting of Tullamore Municipal District.

Councillor Sean O'Brien said Mr Smollen who died on May 5, was short of 87 years-of-age when he died. He said he had an ''amazing working career.'' He worked in the UK and had several jobs. He moved back to Tullamore and started in the Midland Butter and Bacon factory in 1963 and was there until it closed, said Cllr O'Brien.

Joe Smollen was born in the Meelaghans area of Tullamore where Tesco is currently located. He worked all his life and lived a very active life. He was predeceased by his wife Eileen and granddaughter Anne-Marie.

Councillor Declan Harvey also expressed his sympathy to the Smollen family as did Cllr Frank Moran. ''May he rest in peace,'' he said.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Neil Feighery extended sympathy to Cllr Smollen and his family. ''I met with and spoke to your dad once. I was on the campaign trail, in Barony Way, we had an interaction. I extend our sympathy he was a lovely man,'' said Cllr Feighery.

Councillor Tony McCormack said that, ''like everyone else I would like to extend my sympathies to Ken and his family. I was a neighbour of Joe's. He will be sorely missed around the place it was always great to see Joe, a friendly man. When I moved into the estate on Barony Way, Joe was always outside doing his garden, a great man to look after the garden and look after the street. He will be hugely missed by all his neighbours. My sympathies go out to Ken and all his family and his extended family and all his friends.''

Director of Services, Tom Shanahan said he would like to be associated with all the comments.

Cllr Smollen thanked all the councillors for the kindness they had shown and the kind comments they made. ''I would also like to thank everybody that visited my father's home in those difficult few days that we had. Those people who attended the funeral and the unbelievable kindness that was shown to us over those few days at what was an extremely difficult time. Even though he was almost 87 it is particularly hard thing as Councillor McCormack would say due to his recent bereavement. It's very difficult to lose a parent no matter what age they are,'' he added.

Cllr Neil Feighery also extended his sympathy to traffic warden Alan Murphy on the ''sad and untimely passing of his brother Keith whose remains were interred this week. An exceptionally hard time for his family,'' he added.

A moment's silence followed the tributes.