Council meeting adjourned as mark of respect for former Waterford councillor

A council meeting was adjourned for a short period yesterday following the passing of a former Waterford councillor.

The June plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council was adjourned for 10 minutes as a mark of respect for the late Seán Dower.

Mr Dower was a longstanding member of Fianna Fáil and served as a councillor on Waterford City Council from 1999 to 2004.

He was also involved in a number of other aspects of Waterford public life, including in arts, education and sport.

A number of councillors paid tribute to Mr Dower prior to the meeting’s short adjournment.

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Fianna Fáil councillor Jason Murphy spoke on behalf of his own party at the meeting.

Cllr Murphy said that “no one ever had a bad word to say” about Mr Dower and that was testament to the “type of man he was”.

Labour Party councillor Seamus Ryan, speaking on behalf of his party, said he wanted to be associated with the comments made by Cllr Murphy.

Cllr Ryan said that himself and Mr Dower were both elected for the first time in 1999 and that he had fond memories of him.

He also mentioned his recent presence at a Mayoral Reception for the Mercy Sisters, such was his continued involvement in Waterford public life.

Sinn Féin councillor Pat Fitzgerald commended Mr Dower’s work as a public representative and passed on condolences on behalf of his party.

The meeting was subsequently adjourned for 10 minutes as a mark of respect.

The Mayor of Waterford, Cllr. Liam Brazil, has opened an online Book of Condolence in memory of Mr Dower.

Members of the public who wish to leave a message of sympathy and remembrance are invited to do so through the online Book of Condolence.