Killyleagh woman was mother of 10

TRIBUTES have been paid to Killyleagh woman Margaret Walsh who has sadly passed away at the age of 90.

Mrs Walsh died last Saturday at her home at Bridge Street, with the tributes led by Baroness Margaret Ritchie.

Lady Ritchie said Mrs Walsh, formerly of Lettertrain in Donegal, was a wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother.

“Margaret was very involved in the local community and was a housekeeper to several parish priests in Killyleagh. She was also a fluent Irish speaker,” she continued.

“In the early 1970s, Margaret was selected as a candidate for the SDLP to fill a vacancy on the former Down County Council for the Killyleagh area, prior to the local authority’s reorganisation.”

Lady Ritchie said that along with other local SDLP stalwarts, Mrs Walsh invested energy and commitment into that election campaign. 

She also recalled that there was another election on that same day to fill another vacancy, with the late councillor Owen Adams tasting success.

“Sadly, Margaret was not elected and Killyleagh lost out on a first class public representative,” Lady Ritchie continued.

“But that did not deter Margaret in her sterling community efforts on behalf of the people and parish of Killyleagh. Along with her late husband Gerry, they continued to be local party members in Killyleagh fighting for justice and equality for all.”

Mrs Walsh, who is also pre-deceased by her son Joe and daughter Kathleen, is survived by her children Anne, Gerard, Claire, Cecelia, Ignatius, Veronica, Paula and Susan.

She is also survived by her brother Pat in Tipperary and sisters Mary (Chicago), Nora (Pennsylvania), Cis (Coventry), Rose, Kathleen and Angela (all Donegal).