Shock and sadness after death of Roscommon councillor

The death has been announced of Roscommon county councillor Anthony Waldron.

Roscommon County Council confirmed the news.

In a statement, the council's executive said it was with shock and great sadness that the learning of Cllr Waldron's untimely passing on Sunday morning

In a statement Cathaoirleach Cllr. Paschal Fitzmaurice said the late Cllr. Anthony Waldron commanded respect across the political divide and said his loss would be deeply felt by the communities he served with dedication and integrity.

“As Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council I share the deep shock and sadness on learning of Cllr. Anthony Waldron’s passing. As a colleague on Roscommon County Council, Anthony Waldron was respected across the political divide as a hardworking, sincere and dedicated public representative.

“To Cllr. Waldron’s family and friends, I would like on behalf of all my colleagues on Roscommon County Council to extend my sincere and heartfelt sympathies to the late Cllr. Anthony Waldron - may he rest in peace.”

On behalf of the management and staff of Roscommon County Council, Chief Executive Shane Tiernan said it was also with deep shock and sadness that he learned of the untimely death of Cllr. Anthony Waldron.

“At the outset, I would like to extend my sympathies to Cllr. Waldron’s family and friends on his sad and untimely passing. News of Anthony’s death has been received with great shock, not only among the members and staff of Roscommon County but also in the wider community of Ballintubber and in the Roscommon Municipal District which he served so diligently as a public representative.

“To his fingertips, the late Cllr. Anthony Waldron was an absolute gentleman. He was a genuine, unassuming and kind and reflected all that was good in humour nature.

“Cllr. Waldron cared deeply for people and for communities. He was a passionate advocate for the people he served and was universally regarded by all sections of the wider Ballintubber community as well as his colleagues on Roscommon County Council. He believed passionately in Roscommon and the people he served as an elected member of the Roscommon Municipal District.”

“Cllr. Waldron also believed passionately in what county Roscommon had to offer through its history, heritage and natural amenities. Perhaps the late Cllr. Waldron’s biggest achievement as an elected representative was being instrumental in the development of The Suck Valley Way as a key tourism and recreational attraction in the county.

Cllr. Waldron established an annual Suck Vally Way Conference which highlighted what the wider area had to offer driven by his steadfast belief on the potential of this pivotal natural amenity. Once again, I would like to extend my sincere sympathies to Cllr. Waldron’s family and friends on his sad and untimely passing”, the Chief Executive concluded.

The late Cllr. Waldron was first elected as a member of Roscommon County Council from 2004 to 2009. He was successfully returned as an Independent member of the local authority in the local elections of 2019 and was re-elected in last June’s local elections. He also served as a former Chairman of the Roscommon Municipal District.

At the time of his passing, the late Cllr. Waldron was Chairman of Roscommon County Council’s Roads, Transportation and Emergency Services Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) and also served as a member of Housing, ICT and Rural Water SPC.

As a mark of respect to the late Cllr. Anthony Waldron, both the tricolour and Roscommon flag will be lowered to half-mast at Aras an Chontae. A Book of Condolence for the late Cllr. Waldron will be available for the public to express their sympathies in Áras an Chontae from tomorrow morning, Monday.