The death has occurred of Brigid Emerson, a wonderful community activist over a number of decades in Portarlington and a former member of Offaly County Council.
A native of Meath, Mrs Emerson had lived in Portarlington for the best part of 60 years and made a lasting contribution across a range of community projects. She was aged in her early 80s.
She was an elected member of Offaly County Council from 1991 to 1999 for the Progressive Democrats (PDs) for the Edenderry District, pulling in a massive Portarlington vote from the part of the town that voted in Offaly.
Whether it was the Portarlington Community Development Association, Meals on Wheels, or the much-loved Emigrant Newsletter, her fingerprints were across a number of projects.
The People’s Park, the Community Centre and the Portarlington Enterprise Centre were among the initiatives she helped to get off the ground.
She initiated the After School project more than 50 years ago, something which is still running today, and was also behind the formation of the Laois-Offaly Spina Bifida organisation, something that was very close to her heart given that her daughter Gráinne suffered from the condition and died as a teenager.
Her involvement in various groups was done with great warmth, generosity, kindness and good humour. Indeed such was her contribution that a room in the Portarlington Community Centre was named after her in 2004.
Of course the Emerson name is strongly associated with Laois and Portarlington football and she was a staunch supporter of club and county teams. Her son Hughie was a star Laois footballer throughout the 1990s and part of the 2003 Leinster winning team.
She also served as vice-chairman of Offaly County Council, supporting the Fianna Fáil councillors of the time in Offaly, among them future Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
Incidentally she had left Fianna Fáil to join the PDs and herself and her good friend Cathy Honan were elected on the same night in 1991, Brigid in Offaly and Cathy in Laois.
For the town of Portarlington to elect two women in the early 1990s was particularly significant, even more so for a fledgling political party like the PDs.
“She was a marvellous person and a marvellous councillor,” said Cathy, who worked closely with Brigid and was later a Senator.
“I never met anyone who had a bad word to say about her. She was the same to everyone and an example to anybody who was involved in community groups. She was an extraordinary woman – so warm and positive and always smiling.
“She was hugely respected by officials in Laois and Offaly County Council because she dealt with them both and she was the best councillor you could ever hope to have.”
Formerly of Ballinabrackey, County Meath, Brigid passed away peacefully, at her residence on Bishopswood Road in Portarlington, surrounded by her loving family.
Loving wife of the late Hugh and dear mother of the late Gráinne. Deeply regretted by her loving sons and daughters – Frances, Geraldine, Lizzie, Hughie, Georgie and Andrew – grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brother Jimmy, sister Eilish , in-laws, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and many friends.
Reposing at her residence (eircode R32 PE08) on Monday and Tuesday from 4pm with Rosary at 8pm on both evenings.
Removal on Wednesday morning at 11am arriving St Michael’s Church, Portarlington, for Requiem Mass at 12 noon. Funeral afterwards to St Michael’s Cemetery, Portarlington.
Brigid’s Requiem Mass will be streamed live on https://www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/st-michaels-church-portarlington
House Private on Wednesday morning, please. Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, to Laois Hospice.
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