News from Ireland - news from around the 32 counties

A true gentleman, who served the people of Waterford for almost four decades, has been lost following the untimely death, under tragic circumstances, of the recently retired Superintendent of Tramore, Jerry Lynch.

In his career, as a husband, a father and a friend, Jerry touched the lives of many people and his sudden death has plunged the entire community into grief.

Fifty-eight-year-old Jerry, who was husband to Marian and father to Elaine and Gerard, hung up his hat as Superintendent in Tramore in April of this year, looking forward to enjoying well deserved retirement following 38 years of commitment to the force. But, in a heartbreaking twist of fate Jerry’s life was cut short following a fall from the roof of his home on September 26. On Saturday morning last, Jerry’s fight for life ended, and the father of two sadly passed away in Cork University Hospital.

A Kerry man who immersed himself in life in the locality after he was posted to serve in Newtown in 1972, Jerry managed to touch the lives of many with his compassionate and affable nature both on and off the job.

Chief Superintendent Pat Murphy of Waterford Garda Station said the death of Mr Lynch, a man he deeply admires, has shocked him to the bone.

“He was someone with a real feel for people and there was a real humanity to him. He had the common touch and I admired him enormously. I knew when he retired that he left a huge legacy and I knew I would miss him a lot for his professional contribution at the management table but I was pleased he was living in Ballygunner and would continue to make that contribution to the community. To suddenly hear that he had met a tragic accident and wasn’t likely to recover, it sent a shudder through me,” he admitted.
(Source: Waterford News & Star)

Westmeath

Local twins Kathleen Conlon and May Nugent celebrated their 90th birthday with family at a surprise party in the Dog and Duck in Ballykeeran on Saturday night last.

The ladies turned 90 on September 15 and believe this milestone makes them the oldest living twins in Ireland. Last Saturday they were joined by their sister Lilly Hickey and their extended family to mark the occasion.

Kathleen, from Goldsmith Terrace, and May, from Mount Temple, are very close and try to mark their birthday together every year. Originally from Kiltuber, Drumraney, their parents were Thomas and Kate Conlon. There were five siblings in the family and their brothers Paddy and Thomas Conlon have passed away.

Born in Drumraney, they both moved into Athlone at the age of 20. May went to work at the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, where she worked for nine years until she married Jimmy Nugent and they moved to Mount Temple, where she has lived since. She has four children Laurence, Mary, Tommy and Kathleen.
(Source: Westmeath Independent)

Wexford

A Co. Wexford truck driver falsely imprisoned his student girlfriend and threatened to kill her during a fit of "rage and jealously", the District Court was told in Waterford, last week.

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Nster.com