Tributes are being paid this morning to the former Leitrim Fianna Fáil Councillor Francie Gilmartin who passed away yesterday following an illness.
The popular Councillor served 15 years on the local authority in Leitrim, losing his seat in 2014. It followed the redrawing of the local electoral area, which saw a large majority of his base which was located in the former Dromahair electoral area being moved to the Ballinamore Municipal District.
In his tenure on the local authority, Francie Gilmartin served on the County Enterprise Fund, NW Regional Drug & Alcohol Task Force and as Chairperson on the Board of Drumshanbo Vocational School.
Cllr. Paddy O Rourke is the current Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council. He says his former council and party colleague was committed to serving his local community and was extremely passionate when it came it came to education and the right to build rural housing:
Leitrim Fianna Fail Councillor, Mary Bohan, says Mr Gilmartin was someone who “fought tooth and nail” for his local area of Kiltubbrid and she has fond memories of working with him:
