Castlebar shock at sudden death of Liam Coady

Castlebar shock at sudden death of Liam Coady


Edwin McGreal

There was widespread shock in Castlebar on Saturday morning last when news filtered through that popular local man Liam Coady had died in London the previous night.
Mr Coady (64) was, at the time of his death, the official driver for Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny. He was formerly a member of Castlebar Urban District Council and, together with his brother Adrian, heavily involved in the family pub and funeral home business on Linenhall Street in the town.
Mr Coady, from Knockthomas in Castlebar, was on holidays in London at the time of his sudden death.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, currently on holidays in Italy, is said to be in deep shock after the death of Mr Coady, a lifelong friend of his.
Leading the tributes was Mayor of Castlebar, Cllr Ger Deere, who worked with Mr Coady on a daily basis.
“Liam was hugely popular,” Mayor Deere told The Mayo News. “He personified what was good about politics and that was that it was about dealing with people over party politics and Liam Coady was hugely respected for that. He was a great ambassador for not alone the party but for Castlebar. He was very proud of his Castlebar roots.
“Liam is a huge loss to Enda. He was a great man to defuse a situation. Liam would enter a room and be able to calm things down greatly. It was unreal the regard in which he was held right around the country. He was highly involved in social work down through the years with St Vincent de Paul and others. He did a lot of work very quietly for less well off people. He was an iconic figure.”
Ballina based Minister for Labour Affairs Dara Calleary TD spoke of ‘one of life’s gentlemen’.
“I wish to express my sincere sympathy to Liam Coady’s wife Kathleen, daughter Regina, extended family and large circle of friends. Liam Coady was one of life’s gentlemen, a proud and true Castlebar man who served his community with great distinction. He was a very proud Mayo man and was extremely proud of Fine Gael and in particular party leader and lifelong friend, Deputy Enda Kenny.”
Former Mayo News Editor and former Cathaoirleach  of Westport Town Council, SeΡn Staunton, said he and Liam soldiered at the same time in local politics and met reguarly. “While he always held firmly to his own truth he never allowed party politics to get in the way of friendship. Mayo has lost a true gentleman and I give my sincere sympathy to his wife Kathleen, daughter Regina, brother Adrian and family on their sad loss,” he said.
No funeral arrangements have been made at the time of going to print due to difficulties in repatriating the body from England but the funeral is expected to take place later this week.