Late Jim Hearn played key role in modernisation of Westmeath

The death has taken place of a man who played a key role in promoting the growth and development of Westmeath over a long period, the former Westmeath county engineer, Jim Hearn.

Mr Hearn, of Drumalee, Dublin Road, Mullingar, who was 89, died on Sunday last, April 30, peacefully in the company of his family and in the care of the staff at the Beacon Hospital, Dublin.

Born in Dundalk and raised in Kilkenny, Mr Hearn, who graduated from University College, Cork, in 1954 with a degree in Civil engineering, spent 44 years working in the local authority sector, and 20 years of that time was spent with Westmeath County Council.

Mr Hearn retired from his role with Westmeath County Council in November 1998, and the county is still benefiting from his influence. He was instrumental in advancing many of Westmeath’s key infrastructural developments over that period, working closely with the National Roads Authority and was particularly associated with the Athlone and Mullingar by-passes.

One of the most significant and complex projects with which he is credited is construction of the road bridge over the river Shannon in Athlone.

In fact he was in 1988 appointed a member of, and the only engineer on, the newly-established National Roads Authority and through that position, was part of the decision-making process behind development of the M50.

During his years with Westmeath County Council, Mr Hearn was also credited with fostering the restoration of the Royal Canal. He was also responsible for the replacement of a number of bridges which had been hindering the passage of barges along the canal and he was also keenly involved in maximising Westmeath’s benefit from urban and village renewal schemes. While committed to progress, he was also a passionate believer in conservation and oversaw the restoration of Belvedere House, Park and Gardens.

Prior to working with Westmeath County Council, Mr Hearn served with seven other local authorities – Kilkenny, Wexford, Kerry, Waterford, Cavan, Leitrim and Donegal – working in roads, sanitary services, road design, housing and planning.

In his personal capacity, Mr Hearn was deeply involved in the development of the Mullingar Bridge and Amenity Centre in Bellview, Mullingar, and he was a bridge player of some note, and played at international level as a member of the Irish team.

He was a gifted sportsman: his Kilkenny youth meant, unsurprisingly, that his earliest sporting endeavours were on the hurling field and he loved all Gaelic sports, but what really ignited his passion was rugby, which he played for a spell and followed all his life. He also enjoyed tennis as well as being a keen golfer who had a long association with Mullingar Golf Club and who greatly enjoyed his weekly fourball with Tommy Swarbrigg, John O’Hara, Jim Prendergast and Sean Lucey.

Jim was predeceased in 2008 by his wife of 37 years, Wexford native Ursula, and will be very sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his partner Ethna, with whom he enjoyed a new lease of life over the last three years; his children, Niall, Denise (O’Grady), David and Shane and their spouses, Mary, Tony, Anne and Aileen, grandchildren, Stephen, Andrew, Daithi, Aoife (O’Grady), Fiona (O’Grady), James and Brian, great-grandchildren Dylan, Evan, Luke, Daniel and Darius; sister Von, nieces, nephews, relatives, many friends and his former colleagues from Westmeath County Council.

Mr Hearn’s remains are to repose at his home at Drumalee, Dublin Road, Mullingar N91 A3H5 today, Tuesday, from 5pm concluding with prayers at 7pm.

The funeral Mass will be at 1pm on Wednesday in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar followed by burial in Ballyglass Cemetery.

The Mass may be viewed live on mullingarparish.ie.