Cleveland death

Sadness at sudden death of Achill’s ambassador in Cleveland

Anton McNulty

NEWS of the sudden death of Achill man Stephen Mulloy (71) in Cleveland was met with sadness in his home village of Keel and elsewhere yesterday (Monday), with tributes paid to the person referred to as the ‘go-to man’ for Achill people going to Cleveland.
The news of the death of Steve late on Saturday evening, following a short illness, came as a shock to people in Achill. Steve was described as the ideal ambassador for Achill and was instrumental in the process of twinning Achill with the city of Cleveland.
Steve went to Cleveland 40 years ago where he worked with the gas company, but it was not long before he became a prominent member of the Cleveland Irish Society. He was described as a well-connected person in the Irish community and it was his influence with the Cleveland City Council that made the possibility of twinning Achill with Cleveland a reality.
Cleveland is known to many as ‘Little Achill’ because of the large numbers of Achill people who emigrated to the Ohio city. For young people going there for the first time, a visit to Steve Mulloy was often the first point of call, as he was widely known as the man to go to see for Achill people in Cleveland.
A family member told The Mayo News that Steve was a very versatile person and was a keen musician. He said that Steve loved coming back to Achill and was due to come to visit the island later this month.
“You couldn’t keep him away from Achill; he was very popular in Cleveland, but he always enjoyed coming home for a visit two or three times every year. He was due to come home in July for a few weeks, and his death was a shock.”
Mr Terence Dever, CEO of Comhlacht Forbartha Aitiuil Acla, worked closely with Steve during the twinning process with Cleveland and expressed his sadness at his death. He said his passing was a loss to both Achill and Cleveland.
“Steve was a great ambassador for Achill in Cleveland and was the man behind the twinning of Achill and Cleveland. He was well known and liked in Cleveland and did so much for the young Achill people who went over there for work. He was very active in the Irish community and was heavily involved in fundraising for Achill,” he said.
His comments were echoed by Cllr Micheál McNamara, who expressed his sympathy to Steve’s family on the sad loss. “I met Steve on a number of occasions in Cleveland and Achill and he did so much to assist the people of Achill in Cleveland. He was not just the man for the top table, he was also the person to go to on a small issue, ” he said.
Cllr Gerry Coyle described Steve as a true gentleman and an inspiration to everyone. “I was proud to meet Steve in Cleveland and, despite having to emigrate to Cleveland, his heart never left Achill.” Condolences were also expressed to Steve’s family from the chamber of Mayo County Council at its AGM yesterday (Monday).
His funeral will take place in Cleveland. He is survived by his wife, Annie (nee O’Donnell, Dooagh), and his sons, daughters, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren, sisters and brothers, relatives and friends in Achill and Cleveland.