Funeral arrangements for late TD announced

Mr Leonard passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family, Wednesday, April 13.

Funeral arrangements for the late Jimmy Leonard, former Fianna Fáil TD, Senator and Councillor, have been announced.

Mr Leonard, from Stranagarvagh, Smithborough, served as a member of Oireachtas Eireann between 1973 until his retirement in 1997.

Mr Leonard passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving wife Tess and family, Wednesday, April 13.

Mr Leonard's remains will repose at his residence (H18X884) on Friday and Saturday from 2pm to 9pm. There will be no access to the family home by car, and a shuttle bus will be in service from the GAA Grounds, School Car Park and Magherarney Chapel.

Mr Leonard's Funeral procession will leave his residence, on foot at approx 2.15pm on sunday April 17, to arrive at St Mary's Chapel, Magherarney, Smithborough for Funeral Mass at 3pm.

Burial will take place afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith remembered Mr Leonard as a “tireless, diligent and loyal worker” for all constituents. “He was a powerful advocate for peace on this island and cross-border co-operation even in the darkest days. Jimmy always championed the needs of rural Ireland and the less well off in our communities. He brought to his political work a great and incisive knowledge of farming and the agri-food sector. I know that he gave great help to many start-up enterprises that went on to provide valuable employment locally.”

Deputy Smith continued by saying that Mr Leonard was held in “high esteem throughout our own country” and by parliamentarians from other states. “He worked very well along with colleagues from the Oireachtas and from Westminster in the early days of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body when there were very difficult relationships between Ireland and Britain.

“Outside of politics Jimmy was a great family man, a community activist and a strong supporter of different sports including gaelic games. He was an extremely decent and honourable colleague to work with at constituency and national level. His daughter Ann, as a Senator, carried on that fine tradition of public representation.”

Predeceased by his sister Alice Aughey and brothers Paddy and Tom, Mr Leonard is survived by wife Tess and children Raymond (Patricia), Joe (Ann), Colette (Des Henry, Kildare), Ann (Ted Ryan, Kildare), Ciarán (Joanne). Mr Leonard will be sadly missed and remembered with love by his daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren, Ellen, Ciara, James, Sarah, Thomas, Conor, Clodagh, Donal, Ellie, John, Leonard, Kitty, Maisie, Thady, Aoibhínn, Meábh and Iarlaith, sisters Eileen (O'Boyle, New Jersey, USA) and Mary (Leonard, Dublin), sisters-in-law Una, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours, friends and by “all who knew and loved Jimmy”.