EX-SERGEANT’S GREAT WORK FOR THE TOWN

LEINSTER  LEADER 4 MARCH 1978

Ex-Sergeant’s great work for a town 

Athy lost a highly esteemed resident on February 12th through the death, in Naas Hospital, of Mr. John P. Taaffe, Offaly Street.  He was 74 and a retired Garda Sergeant.

In the years he lived in Athy he did outstanding voluntary work in the raising of money for worthy causes.  As an officer of Geraldine Park Improvements Committee, he played a leading part in the successful fund-raising campaigns that provided the town with one of the best provincial Gaelic grounds in the country.  Later he was one of the small number that formed Athy Swimming Pool Association, a group that in the short space of eight years raised over £20,000 to provide the local contribution without which Athy would not have secured the modern full-sized swimming pool it has today. Throughout that tremendous fund-raising effort he was honorary joint treasurer of the association and an inspiration to the group.  He was a good-humoured, even-tempered man, admired and respected by every class, and he will be remembered for a long time through the public amenities he helped so largely to provide for Athy.

He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, sons John, who is Laois County Secretary; George, Principal of Moyne (Longford) School; Francis, legal advisor to AnCo., and Anthony, who lives in Kill.  He was interred in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Athy, after Requiem Mass.  The district turned out en masse for his funeral.

Athy U.D.C. at Wednesday week’s meeting passed a resolution of sympathy with his wife and family and recorded appreciation of his valuable voluntary services to the town.  The Co. Manager, Mr. J.G. Ward, associated himself with the resolution and tributes.