SADNESS AT PASSING OF FORMER SOUTH MONAGHAN CO COUNCILLOR

Packie Jones of Tonaneave, Magheracloone, who passed away on Wednesday last January 25, was a former member of Monaghan Co Council renowned for his advocacy on behalf of his community and for representing the interests of the farming sector forthrightly and fearlessly. Many tributes have been paid across the South Monaghan and wider community to Mr Jones following his passing in his 89th year at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. Mr Jones was elected to Monaghan Co Council for the Carrickmacross District in 1974, winning a seat for the Fine Gael party with a 13.8% share of the first preference vote in a crowded field of 14 candidates vying for five seats.

He went on to successfully retain his seat in the 1979, 1985 and 1991 local government elections. He was a highly respected local public representative whose knowledge of agricultural issues was widely regarded. He was a strong voice for the small rural family farmer on the Monafghan Co Committee of Agriculture. In that forum and in the Co Council meeting chamber he could be a formidable opponent in debate and a staunch defender of his party, but he was at heart a community man and the trend of his contributions to discussions more often than not focused on the advancement of his native Magheracloone heath and the development of roads, housing and other facets of rural infrastructure which he recognised as integral in preserving the vitality of the small population centres which comprised his electoral heartland.

“Packie was a great community man and held in the highest esteem by our party,” stated Co Fine Gael Chairman Philip Kelly in a tribute. The large volume of tributes paid to the former Co Council member in the aftermath of his passing refer principally to the work he performed to advance the Maghercloone community and to his qualities…