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Tommy Kavanagh: Former SDLP councillor laid to rest

SDLP councillor Tommy Kavanagh has died at the age of 73
SDLP councillor Tommy Kavanagh has died at the age of 73 SDLP councillor Tommy Kavanagh has died at the age of 73

FUNERAL Mass for former Co Armagh SDLP councillor Tommy Kavanagh was celebrated yesterday.

Mr Kavanagh (73) died at Chestnut Lodge Care Home in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, on Sunday following a long illness.

He has been resident at the home for several years.

A former councillor for Keady, he served on Armagh City and District Council for 15 years before his retirement in November 2004.

Mr Kavanagh worked as a bus driver. He was also a founding member of Keady Accordion Band in the 1980s.

His friend, SDLP councillor Thomas O'Hanlon, who took over Mr Kavanagh's seat, said he was saddened by the death of his "mentor".

"Whenever I joined the SDLP Tommy asked me to help him out with some paperwork," he said.

"He mentored me; he proposed me for council; he was a good friend."

He said Mr Kavanagh "loved spending time with people".

"He was a character, a joker; he was someone who loved life and people and he was great craic.

"He was the kind of guy who loved a bit of divilment and a laugh at his own expense."

Funeral Mass was celebrated at St Patrick's Church in Keady yesterday morning followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.