DOONBEG’s Murt McInerney was remembered at the July meeting of Clare County Council with a fifteen minute adjournment proposed in his memory.
Murt’s funeral took place on Wednesday with large crowds attending at Our Lady Assumed into Heaven Church, a church that he gave so much of his life to and spent an abundance of time to.
Chair of the Fianna Fáil grouping, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) proposed the adjournment as a mark of respect to Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) and her family on Murt’s passing. “Murt was known far and wide across the county through drama, education, politics and various interests. When we always thought of Doonbeg in the past, we thought of Murt, he was a man of the community and of society, he is a huge loss to Doonbeg, West Clare and his family”.
According to Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG), “Murt needs no introduction, he was a man for church and state, he headed the drama group for fifty years in Doonbeg. He taught in St Flannan’s College, he was a great teacher, he politics he handed the role over to Rita to continue the good work, he was monumental in the GAA in Doonbeg, his son Francis captained Clare to win the Munster championship in 1992 and his own son Mark has taken on the mantle”.
Keating continued, “he was great man to know and a great advisor, he will be missed in a big way across the county, if you got to know Murt he knew you forever”. The recent visit of Bishop Fintan Monahan to see Murt “was a real tribute” and meant a great deal to McInerney.
It was July 2024 at the episcopal ordination of Monsignor Séamus Horgan where he was consecrated as Papal Nuncio to South Sudan that Cllr Mary Howard (FG) last met Murt. She recalled, “We had a lovely chat, I never realised my late father opened the drama festival many moons ago but you always learned something new when talking to Murt. I can imagine there is a huge void in your life but he was very proud of you,” she told Cllr McInerney.
“I knew Murt longer than I care to remember,” said Cllr Michael Begley (IND) when expressing his sympathies. “Murt was so well known in business, politics and the GAA,” commented Cllr Pat Daly (FF). Cllr Dinny Gould (IND) said Murt was “a good friend of mine” while also expressing sympathies to the family of Noel Lane in Kilrush.
Addressing the meeting, Cllr McInerney said her father “loved his community and he cherished his family. His faith was very important. It is all about community people and people who make an impact by being involved in their community”.
Votes of sympathy were also passed to the Wilson family on the death of Frances in Miltown Malbay by Cllr Bill Slattery who said she “very dedicated to her profession as a nurse” and to her local community. Cllr Michael Shannon (FF) noted both the Wilson and McInerney families were “active in their communities, be it politics or sport”.
Evelyn Quinn in Sixmilebridge, the wife of GP, Dr Padraic Quinn and a sister in law of Cllr John Crowe (FG) was also remembered at the meeting by Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF).
Mary McMahon of the Ennis Rd in Newmarket-on-Fergus was described as “an institution in the village” by Cllr David Griffin (FF).
Fanore’s Kevin McCormack was remembered by Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) as “a great man who founded the walking club, the GAA club in Ballyvaughan was at the heart of everything which happened for him”.
