Tributes paid to former councillor Jack Roche 

TRIBUTES have been paid to former councillor Jack Roche, who has died.

At Monday's meeting of Cork County Council, members recalled their memories of the former Fianna Fáil councillor.

The 84-year-old single man was a powerhouse of local politics in the Duhallow region, said councillor Bernard Moynihan.

“He made an immense contribution during his time in the council, from 1976 to 1999, and after he left the council he continued to work for his community at local, national and European level.

“He never stopped advocating for Duhallow and working for his community which he served with distinction and honour.”

The former councillor was a board member of IRD Duhallow as well as a former president of European LEADER.

In his native village, he played a key role in building the Bruach na Carraige centre for traditional music where many musicians have learned to master their instruments.

He was a lifelong member of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Fine Gael councillor Gearóid Murphy recalled attending a Scór na bPáistí at the centre when Mr Roche was directing proceedings.

Mr Murphy was the council leader of his party when Mr Roche was leader for Fianna Fáil.

“We worked extremely well together — you could always rely on Jack Roche, if he gave you his word, he would stick by his word,” he said.

“He was a very diligent, honest, straightforward, hard-working public representative with a great sense of what his community and constituency needed and he served them with distinction over the decades.”

County Mayor Frank O’Flynn described the former councillor as a good friend who was “larger than life”.

“Anything you heard about the community, Jack Roche did it, he was from the community, he lived in the community.”

Mr Roche’s funeral will be held today in Knockaclarig Church at 10.30am tomorrow with burial afterwards in Rockchapel Cemetery.