Councillors pay tribute to ‘gentle giant’, John Coll

‘HUGE CONTRIBUTION’?The late John Coll.

Councillors pay tribute to ‘gentle giant’ John Coll


Áine Ryan

‘A GENTLE giant’ who ‘had huge influence over all our lives’ was how Cllr Joe Mellett described the late John Coll at yesterday’s Annual Budget Meeting in Áras an Chontae. The Fine Gael Councillor led the warm tributes to the Donegal native who had spent over two decades serving the local authority in pivotal roles, in his roles as the county’s first Arts Officere and first Director of Services for Community and Enterprise.  
Describing him as ‘a larger than life character’, he noted that Mr Coll, who was interred near his native Bunbeg on Sunday, December 29, had a significant impact on lots of areas in Mayo County Council and the county as a whole.
Concurring, Fianna FΡil’s Cllr Al McDonnell also cited his contribution ‘to the arts and traditional music, in particular’ both in Crimlin, his adopted home place and Castlebar. Sinn Féin’s Cllr Rose Conway-Walsh spoke about John Coll’s commitment to ‘community development’, while Independent Cllr Frank Durcan said ‘he never had a confrontation with him, proving that he was a true gentleman’.
County Manager, Peter Hynes said: “He served here for 24 years and made an enormous impact both as an Arts Officer and Director of Services for Community and Enterprise.”
He said his huge contribution to the county was always underpinned by his humour but, it was important to remember, he was always ‘a proud Donegal man and that September 2012 [when Donegal won Sam Maguire]’ was a very important day for him’.
Calling for a minute’s silence, Cathaoirleach Johnny O’Malley formally expressed the sympathy of the county council to his widow, Sheila, and their sons, Thomas and Neil.