Tributes paid to ‘Queen of Volunteers’ Detty Cornally at county council meeting

A wave of heartfelt tributes was paid to the late Detty Cornally at Monday week’s meeting of Westmeath County Council, as councillors recalled a woman who epitomised public service, community spirit and kindness.

The council suspended standing orders at the beginning of the meeting as a mark of respect to the former town and county councillor, who passed away on Saturday July 26. Cathaoirleach Cllr Aoife Davitt led expressions of sympathy, describing Ms Cornally as “a wonderful person, very genuine” and “steeped in all things community”.

“Detty lived for the betterment of everything around her. She was dedicated to so many organisations – Westmeath Hospice, her coffee mornings, Mullingar Shamrocks, Scór, and many more. She was everything that was good about Mullingar and about volunteering.”

Cllr Denis Leonard, who formally proposed a vote of sympathy, remembered his Labour Party colleague as “a woman of the highest integrity… simply an outstanding people person”.

“She fought battles for fairness and equality that no one else could have won,” he said. “Detty completely embodied how quiet determination and an inherent sense of justice speaks more to leadership than all the bluster in the world. She was the best of us.”

Cllr David Jones extended sympathies on behalf of his group and paid tribute to Ms Cornally’s role as a pioneer for women in politics.

“She served when there were very few female councillors,” he said. “She showed how essential women are in politics through the great work she did in the community and in her party.”

Cllr Mick Dollard recalled Ms Cornally’s personal devotion to her late husband Rob, who suffered from multiple sclerosis, and her tireless work as a councillor and campaigner.

“She was a tenacious worker,” he said. “She was involved with the arts centre, Irish dancing, Scór, the Shamrocks, North Westmeath Hospice. Her house on Woodland Avenue was a welcome place to all. She leaves a huge void.”

He suggested the council formally communicate its condolences to Ms Cornally’s family in recognition of her many years of public service.

Several councillors remarked on the shock of her sudden passing, having seen her active in recent weeks. Cllr Ken Glynn remembered meeting her at the funeral of the late Vera Hynes only days earlier.

“She looked brilliant,” he said. “Only recently she ran a fundraiser for MS Ireland. The place was full – that was Detty. She was a fantastic ambassador for her family, her party, and Mullingar.”

Cllr Tom Farrell described her as “the Queen of Volunteers,” someone who “did untold work behind the scenes” and “was a born leader”.

“You were in the door two minutes and you couldn’t say no to her,” he said. “She had that way about her.”

On behalf of the Labour group, Cllr Leonard thanked colleagues for their tributes, saying “no words can express the loss she leaves in Mullingar.”

“I hope,” he added, “that like Sr Finbar and Joe Dolan, somewhere in Shamrocks or Mullingar will commemorate the contribution that Dessie has made to this town.”

Chief executive Barry Kehoe said the council would write to Ms Cornally’s family on behalf of the members.

“She was an institution in the town,” he said. “Her passing is deeply felt.”

The meeting was adjourned for 15 minutes following the tributes.

A vote of sympathy was also passed at the meeting with former cathaoirleach, Cllr Liam McDaniel, who was bereaved at the weekend by the death of his brother Thomas McDaniel, who lived in Derry and died on Saturday July 26.