Home News Council Tributes paid to late Jerry Lodge following sad passing

Tributes paid to late Jerry Lodge following sad passing

By
Alan Hartnett
-
Jerry Lodge

Last night, the sad news that local Councillor Jerry Lodge had sadly passed away began to emerge.

The Fianna Fail Cllr held the role of elected representative for over half a century and he worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Portlaoise and Laois people alike.

A number of fellow Laois Councillors have also expressed their shock and sadness at Jerry’s passing.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said: “It was a great privilege and honour to work and serve alongside my Fianna Fail friend and colleague Jerry Lodge.

“He was always very helpful and supportive in whatever way he could.

“Jerry had an innate understanding of the work of local government. Jerry was highly involved in the local community in Portlaoise with the Tidy Towns and local heritage. He also had a great gra for the Irish language.

“His mild mannered approach was often used to great effect to diffuse many a difficult situation.

“Jerry worked tirelessly for the betterment of Portlaoise and Laois all his life.

“My deepest sympathies go to Patricia, Damien, Pauric and his extended family at this sad time.

“Jerry will be sadly missed by all of us.”

Current Cathaoirleach Padraig Fleming said Jerry Lodge was “an icon in local politics”.

“He served over 50 years between Town Commission and County Council. I was delighted when he was honoured by Fianna Fail at last year’s Ard Fheis.

“I have known him for a long time and have served on the Council with him for the past nine years.

“He was a bright clever man and always had the bigger picture in mind. He was a great guidance to fellow colleagues in the Council and showed massive committment and dedication to the Portlaoise Tidy Towns in a voluntary capacity.

“He was held in high regard and when he spoke people listened.”

Paschal McEvoy said: “Since I was elected four years ago, Jerry has been a real support to me.

“He was an absolute gentleman and if you ever had a problem, he was the man to go to.

“We are all in shock and Jerry will be sadly missed.”

Fianna Fáil Leader, Micheál Martin also expressed his deep sadness at the passing of long-standing and well respected Laois Councillor, Jerry Lodge.

He said: “I learned of Jerry’s death with immense sadness. Jerry was a much beloved Councillor in the Portlaoise, and wider Laois, area, with a record of service to the local community that saw him elected at every local election he ever contested.

“Elected in 1967 to the former Portlaoise Town Commissioners, and to Laois County Council in 1974, Jerry gave over 50 years of dedicated, hard-working service to his community and to his county.

“Jerry was our party’s longest serving councillor, and only last autumn received a special Leader’s Award in recognition of his exemplary service to his community and party.

“Despite his strong loyalty to the Fianna Fáil organisation, Jerry had friends right across the political spectrum, and his strong electoral record is proof of both his hard work on the ground and of the respect people in his community had for him.

“Jerry was a committed community worker, and his involvement with Portlaoise Tidy Towns was a source of great pride for him and his family.

“I want to express my deepest sympathies to Jerry’s family and in particular to his wife Patricia and his two sons, Damian and Padraig of whose achievements he was immensely proud.

“Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam dhílis.”

Laois and Fianna Fail TD Seán Fleming also paid a tribute with an emotional video post on his Facebook page.

He also released a statement saying: “It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of Jerry Lodge MCC after a short illness.

“My immediate thoughts are for Patricia, Damien, Pauric and the extended family. They have lost a loved one and a person who was highly respected in his own community.

“On my own behalf and on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party I want to extend my deepest sympathy to all who knew Jerry. He was an elected Fianna Fáil Public Representative for over 50 years, which in itself speaks volumes about the man.

“He was the longest serving Fianna Fáil representative in the country and this achievement was honoured by our Party Leader Micheal Martin T.D. at our last Ard Fheis.

“Jerry had a tremendous interest in Portlaoise and his priorities were to improve the town, the Tidy Towns and education facilities locally.

“Everybody who knew Jerry said that he was a thorough gentleman. Jerry was a very kind and courteous person to everybody he met.

“Jerry will be sadly missed by all who knew him.”

Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan also paid his respects.

He said: “I’ve learned of the passing of Cllr Jerry Lodge with sadness.

“Jerry’s public service for almost half a century was built on ‘resilience’. While staunchly Fianna Fáil in outlook Jerry was a consensus politician.

“He had the great skill of gaining cross party consensus on many difficult decisions. Jerry was a consensus builder. I enjoyed working with Jerry. He could be trusted from across the floor. He made a great contribution to local politics particularly in local education through his membership and Chairmanship of the VEC (now ETB).”

While Laois Fianna Fail Chairman Joe Dunne that Jerry lived and breathed Portlaoise.

He said: “It is with immense sadness that Laois Fianna Fail has learnt of the death of Cllr Jerry Lodge.

“Jerry was a much respected and admired colleague and friend to the FF organisation here in Laois.

“His longstanding commitment to FF was recognised at our last Ard Fheis. His 50 years as a public representative was celebrated by Uachtaráin FF Michael Martin at our recent Dinner Dance in The Castle Arms Hotel in Durrow.

“Jerry lived and breathed Portlaoise. He had a great devotion to and understanding of the town. He immersed himself in so many aspects of community life from Tidy Towns to promoting job creation.

“The last time I spoke to Jerry he was still planning one of his many community initiatives, to place a wreath at the republican plot in Portlaoise cemetery to mark the anniversary of the 1916 Rising.

“Jerry embodied all that is good about public service. His 50 years representing the people of Portlaoise were tireless. He continued his work right to the end.

“Portlaoise has lost a much respected figure and Laois FF has lost a true friend. Our heartfelt condolences go to Patricia, Damian, Pauric and all the family.”

Various people have also taken to social media to pay their respects to the man.

May he rest in peace.

SEE ALSO – Sadness and shock at the passing of veteran local politician

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR