LETTERKENNY, its people, places and future were paramount for Dessie Larkin throughout his political career and indeed in his day-to-day life as a proud townsman. A brief insight into the many lives he touched and enterprises and projects he supported is evidenced by the huge number of tributes which have been pouring in over recent days.

 

Requiem Mass will take place at mid-day on Friday in St Eunan’s Cathedral, celebrated by long-time friend, Fr Paddy Dunne. Guards of honour will be formed by staff of Donegal County Council, Letterkenny Schoolboys Football Club and St Eunan’s GAA Club.

Following the service the funeral cortege will makes its way down Lower Main Street and past the “foot of the town” where Dessie grew up before going to his final resting place in Conwal Graveyard.

 

Tributes to the late Dessie Larkin

 

Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Seamus O’Domhnaill, led tributes on behalf of the Local Authority and stated: “On behalf of Donegal County Council I would like to convey our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the late Dessie Larkin. Dessie was a great member, diligent and articulate. He was a proud Letterkenny man but a great Donegal man. He was both Mayor of Letterkenny and of Donegal and we as a county will be the poorer for not having Dessie with us.”  

 

“I knew and worked closely with Dessie in the past and I always found him to be a capable and most effective politician, he was a firm advocate for his constituents and a passionate Letterkenny man through and through.

“Dessie was first elected to Donegal County Council in 1999, having previously been co-opted onto Letterkenny Town Council in place of his late father James, who was a long-time member of the Town Council and served as Town Mayor on numerous occasions.

“Dessie was a most active and effective local Councillor, having served on various strategic committees of the Council and then serving as Mayo of the County in addition to being Mayor of Letterkenny. He was a great advocate of supporting Letterkenny Town expansion, properly planning for the ever expanding future of the town, supporting businesses in the town and the provision of social housing and proper infrastructure for the Town and surrounding areas. Dessie was also a long serving member of Donegal VEC and served as its Chairperson also.

Deputy Gallagher concluded: “I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to his wife Mary, their children Danielle, Courtney, James and Matthew, to his mother Eileen and his brothers and sisters. No words will ever convey the extent of their loss on this sad occasion, a life cut short is always difficult to comprehend and understand but comfort can be taken from the outpouring of the people, and the recognition that in his life Dessie made a massive contribution to his area and that will remain his lasting legacy.”

 

Donegal Sports Partnership extended their sympathies to the Larkin and McCool Family on the sudden and unexpected death of our former Director and Chairman of our Board Dessie Larkin.

“Dessie was a great advocate of the work of Donegal Sports Partnership, being a real community person he understood the benefits of sport and physical activities at grassroots level and how such activities provided for inclusion and integration within our communities. He ensured that sport and physical activity was always present when it came to allocations of resources and was a pillar of support in attracting resources to Donegal in his many roles.”

 

A spokesperson for Letterkenny Community Development Project stated: “Dessie was a true supporter of the work we do in the community and where he could help he would. During his time in Letterkenny Town Council, Donegal County Council and more recently at the Donegal Marathon, he always remembered to include our project and acknowledge the work we did. We will miss him and hold onto our fond memories of him.”

 

 

Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin said: “I would like to extend my sympathies and those of the entire Fianna Fáil Party to the family and friends of Dessie Larkin on his untimely passing. This is an extremely difficult time for Dessie’s family and our thoughts are with them.

“Dessie was the quintessential community activist and supported all efforts to improve and enhance the town and county. He enjoyed his life of public service and worked very hard for those he represented.

“I want to extend my condolences to Dessie’s wife Mary, their family and all of his friends. I know the community in Letterkenny will be feeling his loss.”

 

A spokesperson for the Earagail Arts Festival stated: “As a long-serving board member and during his time as an elected local representative, Mayor of Letterkenny and Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Dessie was a remarkable advocate of the Earagail Arts Festival. But most importantly, he was a great friend and a supporter of the wider Donegal arts community in general.

“A proud Letterkenny man, he took great joy out of seeing the arts thrive, especially in festival projects close to his heart, such as UNIFIED The Musical and The Fiesta.”

 

Fianna Fáil Donegal County Councillor, Ciaran Brogan, has paid tribute to his former party colleague, Dessie Larkin, who passed away suddenly at his home in Letterkenny on Monday morning.

Cllr Brogan, who is the Fianna Fáil party whip on Donegal County Council, said the town of Letterkenny and the entire county is in a huge state of shock and sadness.

“Dessie and myself were both elected on to Letterkenny Town Council in June 1999. Dessie had been co-opted on to the council following the death of his father, James, in September 1998 and was also elected on to Donegal County Council in June 1999. He served both councils with honour and distinction before stepping down from political life in 2014 when he decided not to seek re-election,” Cllr Brogan said.

“Dessie brought a great energy to the councils and to all the different organisations he was involved with over the years. He was chairman of Donegal Sports Partnership and brought all his sporting experience to that role. Donegal Sports Partnership has grown to become an extremely important body in society and he was instrumental in its success, given his roles on the council and in the VEC – now the ETB – at the time,” he added.

“It might be five years since Dessie served as a public representative, but he left a lasting legacy in so many parts of Letterkenny, his home town which he had such a passion for. There were many contentious issues that had to be dealt with during his time as a councillor and he played a huge role in the decisions the councils took. The development of the Cathedral Carpark, the development of the old mart site, the provision of the Aura Leisure Centre and the construction of the Ballymacool Town Park all happened when Dessie was at the cut and thrust of local politics. All the local major infrastructural projects didn’t come easy. They came because hard decisions were taken by the council and Dessie was never afraid to take hard decision in the best interest of the town and its people. The success and the growth of the town were always at the top of his agenda.

“Whether it was the VEC, the Joint Policing Committee or the Donegal Sports Partnership, Dessie gave it everything. He was chairman of Letterkenny Town Council and went on to become Donegal County Council Chairman. His knowledge of local government was second to none. When the history of Letterkenny is written, his fingerprints will be rightly associated with all of the positive developments that happened when he was elected to serve his people.”

Cllr Brogan added: “This is an extremely difficult time for his family. They are shocked and devastated by the loss of Dessie who was such a fine ambassador for Letterkenny and Donegal.”

 

Minister Joe McHugh, speaking from Beijing earlier this week paid tribute to Dessie Larkin and stated: “I want to pay my respects on the sad passing of Dessie Larkin who passed away suddenly today. I was shocked to hear the news and I know how devastating this must be for Mary and Danielle, Courtney, James, Matthew and extended family.

“We both entered the Donegal County Council chamber 20 years ago on the 11th of June 1999. Dessie’s passion for his native Letterkenny and county was always top of his political agenda. And he was always a big advocate in promoting the arts, heritage and language of Donegal.

“I always valued and admired Dessie’s company, good banter and positivity. But most of all I valued his friendship. And during those times he always talked about his family and how much they all meant to him.”

 

 

Anne McGowan, Chairperson of An Grianán Theatre, Anne McGowan said the Board and Staff received the news of the late Mr Larkin’s sudden death with great sadness and an enormous sense of shock.

“Dessie was a former director of an Grianán Theatre CLG. He was energetic and cheerful, full of life and enthusiasm. He had a fine political mind and had a real commitment to public service . Dessie had a great passion for his native town and county where he was a powerful advocate of the arts, heritage and language. An Grianán Theatre is hugely indebted to Dessie Larkin. His support of the Theatre and the wider arts community will be sorely missed.”

 

 

Former Council colleague, Fine Gael Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh said Dessie Larkin was “diligent, intelligent and full of enthusiasm for the role”.

“He was incredibly proud of Letterkenny and of Donegal, and incredibly proud of his own family’s long connection with Letterkenny Town Council and Donegal politics. Dessie was always looking for ways to improve the town and county, and was innovative and forward thinking with the many motions he would bring to council. He was also always full of banter, quick witted, great company and never short of chat about the latest goings on in the GAA and with Liverpool F.C. 

“If my memory serves me correctly one of the last motions that Dessie brought to the council in Letterkenny was the idea of having a Donegal Marathon, and he subsequently helped make it a reality in 2015.”

 

The last Mayor of Letterkenny Town Council, Paschal Blake who took over the chain of office from Dessie Larkin said he wished to extend his condolences to the Larkin and McCool family on their recent loss.

“During our time on the Council, Dessie and I always worked well together and I was honoured to receive the Mayor’s Chain of Office from him. I would like to extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to his family.”

 

Letterkenny Music and Drama Group said: “Dessie was a great supporter of the LMDG, as he was of all things Letterkenny, and it was he, when he was mayor in 2013, who organised for us to have a Civic Reception in recognition of the success of The 39 Steps nationally. It was a great evening in the Council Offices and a proud night for Pluincead O’Fearraigh and all the group. Thank you again Dessie for all your support. May you Rest In Peace.”

 

Donegal County Museum said they were “shocked and saddened by the untimely passing of Dessie Larkin”. A spokesperson said: “He was an unfailing supporter of the Museum and attended many events during his years serving the people of Letterkenny and Donegal.”

 

A talented soccer player, Dessie donned the Bonagee Utd shirt as both a goalkeeper and outfield player. In a tribute, the Club said: “At the FAI visit to Dry Arch Park in July 2012 Dessie kept the crowd amused with his address that day. Dessie’s passing will leave a huge void in so many peoples lives, and our sympathies go to Mary, Danielle, Courtney, James, Matthew and the wider Larkin family at this time.”

 

Dessie was one of the founders of the Donegal Marathon and Committee Chairman. A spokesperson said: “Dessie was one of the founders of the Donegal Marathon and his passion and enthusiasm is what kept the annual sporting event going. Dessie touched a lot of hearts and always made time to speak with the thousands of competitors who took part on race-day over the last few years. He will be greatly missed.”

 

On behalf of Letterkenny Community Heritage Group, Gabriel Flood said Dessie Larkin was a “good friend and supporter”. “Dessie was a proud Letterkenny man who loved his native town and served it well both as a young and vibrant local politician and as a talented sportsman on the Gaelic and soccer pitches where he always gave 100 per cent.”