Former Downpatrick Area Councillor Dermot Curran Leaves A Lasting Legacy
I first met Dermot Curran in Ardglass in 1978 and over the years I was amazed at his constant energy, dedication and commitment to his role as a local councillor and commitment to his community.
Coming through a troubled time in the history of Northern Ireland, Dermot was inspired by his SDLP party leaders such as John Hume and Seamus Mallon.
His enthusiasm for the Ardglass Festival was second to none and he gathered a good committee around him and for many years produced great festivals in his seaside hometown.
Initially he worked as a manager in a TV rental shop and moved on to working with Pearl Insurance. But the love of his life was the work that he did with the legacy Down District Council and the current Newry Mourne and Down District Council. He was a regular attendee of meetings and a passionate advocate of the work of the Economic Regeneration and Tourism Committee on which he served as a member.
From his early years as Councillor, Dermot encouraged cooperation between councils and councils across Ireland. He served many years on the Northern Ireland Local Government Association body and also acted as president.
As a solid supporter of the development of Ardglass marina, Dermot was keen to see the project come to fruition in 1997 when the marina was officially opened by Eddie McGrady MP.
During the years that he served as Chairman of Council, Dermot introduced the Young Student Achiever Awards which ran for a number of years recognising the youth across the district who showed an entrepreneurial spirit contributing to the overall economic development of the area.
And he welcomed the building of the first St Ayles Skiff in Northern Ireland in Ardglass by local rowing enthusiasts which led the way for other coastal rowing clubs to follow, and today there is a vibrant rowing community up and down the coast which occasionally attends international rowing events.
After 45 years service, Dermot was honoured at an event in the Milbrook Lodge Hotel in Ballynahinch attended by representatives of local bodies, non-governmental organisations and from national, regional and local government. Dermot had spent two years as council chairperson from 1986 to 1987 and from 2011 to 2012.
In May 2023, Dermot was again honoured by his colleagues at Newry Mourne and Down District Council at a special event marking his long service as a councillor. He was at that time the longest-serving councillor in Northern Ireland having been elected in 1973. He had spent an amazing 50 years steeped at the helm of local politics.
Having suffered poor health in recent years, Dermot spent more time with his wife Karen and family. He passed away peacefully at the Downe Hospital on Wednesday 18th October with his wife and family at his bedside.
His remains will be leaving his home at 4 Castle Park at 12.30am for the requiem mass taking place at St Nicholas’ Church, Ardglass, on Wednesday 21st October at 1pm. Following the service, he will be buried in St Mary’s Church, Dunsford.
RIP Dermot.
