The death has occurred this week of Des Carroll, a Wexford native who made a huge contribution to local life in Portlaoise and Laois since moving to live and work in the area more than 50 years ago.
Originally from New Ross, Des was a member of an Garda Síochána and moved to Portlaoise in the early 1970s.
A highly respected figure, he was heavily involved in Community Games along with his wife Margaret and held leading positions at county and national level.
For many Community Games volunteers around the county, a trip to his home in Beladd in Portlaoise with registration forms was a regular occurrence.
Des was also on the Board of Management in the convent secondary school (now Scoil Chríost Rí) for a long number of years and following his retirement from An Garda Síochána, he worked with the Tote and was a familiar face at race meetings across Leinster.
Des passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of Margaret and dearly loved father to Gwen (Perth, Western Australia), Yvonne (Glasnevin), Deirdre (Kulin, Western Australia) and Tracey (Birr).
Cherished grandad to Cillian, Orla, Nora, Niamh, Aoife, James and Tadhg. Des will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by his loving brothers Vincent, Jack, Pat, Ray and Bob, sons in law Tom, Craig and Niall.
Deeply regretted by his brothers in law, sisters in law, nieces, nephews, former colleagues in An Garda Síochána, friends in The Community Games, relatives and neighbours.
Des’s funeral mass took place in Portlaoise today with interment afterwards in SS Peter and Paul’s Cemetery, Portlaoise.
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