WARM, emotional and eloquent tributes have been paid by city councillors to their former colleague, Cllr Jack Bourke, the three- times elected Mayor of Limerick whose death occurred last weekend.
Before the monthly meeting of the council was adjourned out of respect for Cllr Bourke, the mayor, Cllr Jim Long, city manager, Kieran Lehane and each of the councillors, recalled their own personal regard and admiration for the Dublin man who “always kept the people of Limerick to the forefront.
“What you saw with Jack was what you got,” said Cllr John Gilligan.
“His rapier wit was always there, especially when things began to drag here at council meetings, but he always kept the people of Limerick to the forefront of everything.
“Jack Bourke, son of the famous Lord Mayor of Dublin, Lorcan Bourke, who owned Dublin’s Gaiety and Olympia theatres, was sent down, as a young man to Limerick by his father to take charge of the City Theatre and over the years he fell in love with Limerick and did so much for it.
“But he was very much his own man and I don’t ever remember him taking direction from anyone”.
Cllr Gilligan said that on a personal level, he will miss Jack Bourke very much.
“Although I had many runs in with him, they always ended harmoniously. Jack is one of a passing breed of politicians – I will miss him very much”. Recalling his “outstanding chairmanship” of the Mid Western Health Board, Cllr Pat Kennedy said:
“It broke Jack’s heart when the health boards were abolished and he saw the monstrosity that succeeded it in the form of the HSE”.
Recalling the “great support” he gave when her husband died, Cllr Kathleen Leddin said that Cllr Bourke was always “most eloquent and generous to a fault- he brought many great gifts to Limerick, like the 10-week drama festival each year, at a time when there was so little monetary return for this.
“A lot of his papers from the Bourke family, were, I believe, given to the Belltable Arts Centre, also data covering the War of Independence, were given to Sarsfield Barracks and I must also say that though Jack worked tirelessly for Limerick, he never lost his air of elegance”.
Cllr Joe Leddin remembered the advice that as a newly married man he received from Jack Bourke:
“He said that politics can be a lonely business at times and that this is when you need your family more than ever”.
A decent man with great style and a great chairman, was how Cllr Michael Hourigan remembered him, and Mayor Jim Long recalled how Jack Bourke “often took me aside and taught me a trick or two.
“He was a flamboyant, articulate character who did everything for the people of Limerick,” and city manager, Kieran Lehane, said that Jack Bourke “used to stride the city like a colossus.
“I remember going to the pictures for the first time in the City Theatre and the excitement of it. Jack Bourke later moved the cinema to the Roxboro shopping centre, making it the first omniplex in Limerick.
“All of the councillors have paid tribute to Jack’s late wife, Monica and indeed, behind every successful man is a woman. Jack Bourke and Finance Minister, Michael Noonan were married to such women.
“Our deepest sympathies to his children, Declan, Deirdre, Niall and Orla”. Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon, leader of FF also paid tribute to Cllr Jack Bourke.
