Tributes paid to former Leitrim councillor Des Guckian
Tributes have been paid to former Leitrim County Councillor Des Guckian, who has died following a brief illness.
A native of Annaduff, Mr Guckian represented the Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District as an independent councillor for more than a decade.
Mr Guckian officially stepped down from the Council in April due to health reasons and his daughter, Irene Guckian-Rabbitte, co-opted onto his seat earlier this month.
A former teacher at St Mel's College, Longford, he was elected to Leitrim County Council for the first time in 2014 and subsequently re-elected in 2019 and in 2024.
In a statement, Leitrim County Council said it was saddened to learn of the death of the former councillor who passed away earlier today following a brief illness.
They said Des Guckian "performed his role as Councillor with distinction until his resignation due to illness in April of this year".
Mr Guckian, who was also a fluent Irish speaker published several books, including 'Deported: The Story of Jimmy Gralton, Effernagh, Co Leitrim', detailing the story of the only Irishman ever deported from Ireland in 1933.
Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Cllr Paddy O'Rourke told Shannonside FM that Mr Guckian was an intelligent man, who had success as a historian and an author.
Cllr O'Rourke said Des Guckian was a champion of people whom he saw that were left behind.
"On behalf of the members and the council, I'd like to extend our sympathy to his family, his extended family and those who he engaged with through his time in politics."
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