TRIBUTES have been pouring in following the death of former Mayor of Limerick, Kathleen Leddin.
Ms Leddin, who was the 817th Mayor of Limerick, and a long serving Independent councillor in the city, passed away peacefully in Milford Hospice this past Tuesday evening (May 6).
Her son and former Green Party TD for Limerick, Brian Leddin, announced the sad news of his mother’s passing on social media.
“My wonderful mother, Kathleen, has left us tonight. We will miss her incredibly. Mum was an inspiration to me and countless others,” Mr Leddin wrote.
“She was a brilliant storyteller with a long memory of Limerick City, Donoughmore, and Murroe, and so many other places that were dear to her.”
Brian wrote that “Mum was resilient, smart, adventurous and, above all, one of the kindest and funniest people you could meet”.
“She brought joy to us all and gave us immense love. Rest in peace, Mum.”
Labour Councillor Joe Leddin also paid tribute to his late aunt on social media.
Mayor of Limerick John Moran has also expressed his heartfelt condolences: “Kathleen was a trailblazer; she was always pushing myself and many others as a mentor in terms of public service. We’ve lost a super person in Limerick today, who has done so much for the city and the wider region.
She always had a great wit and a great sense of humour, which was always guided by compassion for others around her, both in the political sphere and outside of it. Her legacy will be public service steeply rooted in family and education, from her long number of years as Councillor to serving as Mayor, which I know meant so much to her and her family. I offer my sincere condolences and sympathies to her loved ones and many friends.”
Director General of Limerick City and County Council, Dr. Pat Daly has described Kathleen as “a dedicated and passionate public servant, who was always courteous in her dealings with staff”.
Fine Gael councillor Olivia O’Sullivan wrote that she “enjoyed Kathleen’s company whenever we met, whether at city events, the Milk Market, or more locally in the northside”.
Limerick Labour TD Conor Sheehan described the late former mayor as “a remarkable woman, an effective politician, and the perfect person to serve as the final Mayor of Limerick” (before the amalgamation of Limerick City and County Council).
Kathleen was elected as the sixth female Mayor of Limerick in 2013 after she defeated Fine Gael nominee Denis McCarthy by nine votes to eight.
Following her election, she told the Limerick Post that she “was the happiest woman in Limerick” after 14 years as a councillor.
The 86-year-old grandmother and former postmistress was the last councillor to hold the title after the amalgamation of the city and county in June 2014.
Her time in office also coincided with Limerick being named City of Culture in 2014, something she described as a “a huge honour for the city”.
Kathleen Leddin was first elected to the City Council in 1999; her late husband Tim was a former Fine Gael Mayor of Limerick.
Kathleen is reposing at her home on Friday (9th May) from 5pm to 8pm.
Funeral arriving at Our Lady of the Rosary Church on Saturday (10th May) for Requiem Mass at 10.30am, followed by burial in Mount St. Oliver Cemetery.
Kathleen’s Requiem Mass will be live-streamed here
Family flowers only please, donations if desired to Milford Care Centre.
Kathleen is survived by her sons Timothy, Morgan, Brian and Gregory and stepchildren Deirdre, Anthony, Desmond and Joan.
