By Chris Ashmore

GLOWING tributes have been paid to one of Donegal County Council’s most senior and longest serving officials, Liam Ward, who is set to
retire having worked with the local authority for more than 42 years.

Currently the Director of Community Development and Planning Services, the departure of the Glenfin native is seen as a major loss for the council.

While his impending retirement had been flagged, the fact that Tuesday’s meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District Council was to be his last came as a shock to local councillors.

Leading the tributes at the meeting, the Mayor, Cllr. Ciaran Brogan, said that Mr. Ward’s departure will be “a big loss” for the council and he would be a hard act to follow.

Cllr. Brogan spoke of how Mr. Ward “wore the jersey at all times and was very loyal to Donegal County Council” and was very much a team player, too.

He highlighted how Mr. Ward had played a big role in the Letterkenny-Milford MD area following the abolition of town councils in 2014 and the amalgamation of the Letterkenny and Milford electoral areas as part of the local government shakeup.

Mr Ward had played a significant role as Area Manager and was a key figure in progressing the Donegal Co. Development Plan and Letterkenny and Environs Development Plan.

Cllr. Brogan also stressed how Mr. Ward had been to the fore in social enterprise projects like Letterkenny CDP, the No Barriers Foundation, and Cara House.

Furthermore, his “finger print” was also on many projects currently progressing in Letterkenny, under the €16.6m Urban Redevelopment
funding, including a Linear Park scheme, a re-imagined Market Square, a Cathedral Quarter Park (and Creative Digital Hub) and the
revival of the Old Courthouse.

Cllr. Gerry McMonagle noted how Mr. Ward “was someone you could talk to at the end of the phone” and someone who “kept the head when it got hot and heavy” at meetings, someone who was able to steer through stormy waters and who had a “calmness at times when people were at loggerheads.”

Cllr. Donal Coyle recalled how the “process” was one word that Mr. Ward frequently used and he was also someone who was able to sit back when things got rough and never lost his patience.

Like a number of councillors, Cllr. Donal Mandy Kelly said that Mr. Ward would be “a hard act to follow” and along with a number of his
colleagues the role that he had played following the Creeslough tragedy was commended.

Cllr. Declan Meehan described him as “an absolute gentleman” while Cllr. Jimmy Kananagh said that Mr. Ward had “a wealth of knowledge” and was “an absolute pleasure to work with.”

Other councillors also expressed similar sentiments and were united in extending good wishes to Mr. Ward and his family, and wishing
him a happy retirement.

On behalf of the staff, Seamus Hopkins, Senior Engineer, Water Capital and Environment Division, said that Mr. Ward was “the most
naturally gifted communicator within the council” and quipped that he was “someone who had a great skill to put someone back in their
box.”

Thanking those present for their kind words, Mr. Ward spoke of how he had enjoyed his years with Donegal Co. Council and would look
back on them with a sense of pride.

He paid tribute as well to all those he had worked with and stressed the importance of having respect for one another.

Meanwhile, he also acknowledged the role of the media in covering council related matters.

“I feel lucky to be going out the door with great health,” he concluded.

A standing ovation followed from all present in the chamber in Milford.