TRIBUTES have been paid following the death of Councillor Bernard McGuinness, Cathaoirleach of the Inishowen Municipal District.
The Culdaff based councillor, aged 77, was Donegal County Council’s longest serving member having been first elected for Fine Gael in 1979.
Donegal TD Joe McHugh expressed his sadness after learning of the passing of his friend and colleague.
“Bernard was my political mentor for more than two decades and at all times I knew my place – Bernard was the boss!” said Deputy McHugh.
“At the time I entered politics Bernard had already clocked up 20 years of political experience having entered politics in 1979. He wore his blue shirt and County Council tie with pride and always fought his corner for his County and beloved Inishowen – with a particular fondness for the Northern part of the peninsula.
“In his last two terms he was a father figure to many new generation councillors, a role he adopted with great enthusiasm. In Bernard’s 42 years in politics he continued to keep his politics on the basics with his no nonsense common sense approach to all challenges.”
A Fine Gael man to the back bone, his appetite for politics never waned, embracing Zoom when the pandemic hit to continue to attend Council meetings.
“His point was never made in half measure and persistence dominated every engagement, and he also managed to calm situations with his humour and wit,” added Deputy McHugh.
Cllr McGuinness had a distinguished career having served as Chairperson of Donegal County Council and contested general elections for the party down through the years.
Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Jack Murray also extended his condolences. Cllr Murray described him as the “daddy of the house” in Lifford having represented the people of Inishowen for over forty years.
“He was a formidable political sparring partner to those of us who shared a different outlook on national politics, but also a man whose dedication to his local community was beyond doubt,” said Cllr Murray.
“He was good craic outside the chamber and a man whose experience we all learned from.
He’ll be sadly missed by the people of Culdaff and Inishowen and by the family he loved dearly.”
Cllr McGuinness is survived by his wife Jan, children Maria, Johnny, Jean, Ross, and Gregory, his grandchildren and wide circle of family and friends.
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