Funeral arrangements announced for 'proud Corkman' Bernard Allen 

Funeral details have been announced for former lord mayor, minister of state and TD for Cork North-Central, Bernard Allen, who passed away over the weekend at the age of 79.

Mr Allen’s remains will repose at Jerh O’Connor’s Wilton Funeral Home, Sarsfield Road, from 4pm today, with Requiem Mass at 11am tomorrow in the North Cathedral.

He will be laid to rest in St Finbarr’s Cemetery tomorrow afternoon.

Book of condolence

Meanwhile, a book of condolence has been opened at Cork City Hall to mark Mr Allen’s passing.

A former Fine Gael junior minister, Mr Allen began his political career in 1979, when he was first elected to the then Cork Corporation, in what was then the north-central ward.

In the 1981 general election, Mr Allen was elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fine Gael TD for Cork North-Central, and he retained his seat at every subsequent election until his retirement, after 30 years in the Dáil, in 2011.

In 1988, he served as lord mayor, and in 1994, when Fine Gael returned to government, then taoiseach John Bruton appointed Mr Allen minister of state with special responsibility for youth and sport, a portfolio, it was widely noted, he thoroughly enjoyed.

Between 2007 and 2011, Mr Allen served as chair of the Public Accounts Committee.

Tributes

Leading tributes to Mr Allen, Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said his Dáil career had been marked by an unwavering commitment to his constituents.

“Bernard was a man with endless reserves of wisdom and wit, who knew the perfect time to deploy the right amount of either.

“He was a beloved colleague in Fine Gael and beyond, a proud Corkman and a good friend,” he said.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he had served with Mr Allen for many years on Cork City Council and Dáil Éireann and he had been deeply saddened to learn of his passing.

“Bernard and I got on very well. We enjoyed the cut and thrust of local and national politics and worked together on a bipartisan level,” Mr Martin said. “He put the interests of Cork first, whether in the council or in the Dáil during his 30 years as TD.”

True advocate

Colm Burke, minister of state and Fine Gael TD for Cork North-Central, said Cork had lost a most accomplished public representative and a true advocate.

“He was pivotal in the development of lasting and sustainable sporting infrastructure in Cork city and served on the board of Sport Ireland.

“Additionally, he played an important role in the creation of Munster Technological University,” Mr Burke said.

Mr Allen is survived by his wife Marie (née Dorney), daughters Lorraine, Audrey, and Deirdre, grandchildren Aria, Kayla, and Maria, sons-in-law Cathal and Gordon, Lorraine’s fiancé Thomas, family, relatives and a large circle of friends.