*Peter Considine pictured with Mary Coote Ryan at the final meeting of the Ennis Town Council in May 2014. Photograph: Paschal Brooks
Peter Considine was remembered as a gentle, fair, honest, sage dignified man as well as a adoring husband, father and grandfather who played a central role in the development of a hotel in Doonbeg.
In 1974, Peter was co-opted to both Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council following the death of his father, Michael. He held his position on the County Council up until 2009 and retired from Ennis Town Council five years later prior to its abolition.
From 1995 to 1997, the Fianna Fáil representative was Cathaoirleach of the local authority, he served as Chairman of the Town Council on three occasions and equally Mayor of Ennis in 2002, 2008 and 2012.
Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council was adjourned as a mark of respect to the former Mayor of Clare on the proposal of Pat Daly, “He was an outstanding councillor, very popular and a successful publican”.
Clare’s most experienced councillor, PJ Kelly who was first elected in 1974 recalled, “Above all he had a mighty sense of fairness”. The Lissycasey representative revealed that several follow up Council meetings occurred at Considine’s pub on Abbey St.
Fine Gael’s Johnny Flynn stated, “Peter was a very dedicated and knowledgeable councillor. He represented the town and county with excellent ability. I earnt a lot from the ten years serving with him on Ennis Town Council. His belief in fairness for the towns people and county people was immense”.
According to Pat McMahon, Considine “always had the bigger picture in mind”. The Newmarket-on-Fergus councillor spoke of the “business connections” he “took advantage of for the town of Ennis and for Clare”. McMahon stated Considine had strong contacts in the US whom he encouraged to invest in West Clare, “Doonbeg’s hotel would never have come about only for him”.
Such sentiments were reiterated by Michael Begley. “Peter Considine had an understanding of fairness which you will rarely find in politics and he practised that for as long as I knew him. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word. Doonbeg wouldn’t be what it is only for Peter Considine, it was he who got that going”.
Ann Norton remarked that Peter was one of the first individuals to pass on advice following her 2014 election. “One of the first pieces of advice I got from Peter was to switch off my phone between 7:30pm – 8:00pm and not to turn it on till the following morning, I never took it up unfortunately”. She said his dignity was evident over recent months as he fought illness.
A former customer in her youth of the family’s pub, Mary Howard commented, “He was a lovely gentleman who you always got sage advice from and was adored by all of his girls”. Pat Hayes added, “Peter was a very honest and honourable man, a man you could always engage with and talk to. He was well respected outside of the county, a real man of the people”.
Tony O’Brien said that he “was a man of great integrity, great friendship, a man you could always go to for advice”. PJ Ryan remembered Considine as “an extremely fair man, a sound genuine character. He will be sorely missed by his family and the community of Ennis”. “I grew up knowing Peter Considine, I first met him when I was 12. He had a real respect and belief in women’s abilities which always struck me,” Roisin Garvey of The Green Party stated.
Cathaoirleach, Cathal Crowe labelled Peter as “one of nature’s gentlemen”. Chief Executive of the local authority, Pat Dowling referenced the hospitality provided on Abbey St by Peter during his time with the Clare Youth Service, “He gave me some advice which will remain between him and me for when I joined Clare County Council”.
Indeed Dowling’s first public appearance in his current role was the September 2016 grand opening of the Market Building were Peter was presented with a specially commissioned trophy in recognition of his role in Ennis’ development during his forty year tenure in local office.
Large crowds attended his funeral on May 28th.. He is survived by his loving wife Nora, daughters Michelle, Auriol and Joanne, granddaughter Abby., sons in law Brian, Paul and David, brothers Brendan and Brian, sister Phyl, brothers in law, sisters in law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends.
