With shock and sadness, Cork County Council yesterday announced the sudden death of Cllr Claire Cullinane.
Based in Cobh, she was elected to Cork County Council as an Independent councillor in 2014. Reacting to her death, local councillors expressed sadness at receiving the news and paid tribute to ‘a larger than life person’.
Cllr Cullinane was a member of the Cork County Council 1916 Commemoration Committee of which Cllr Frank O’Flynn was chairperson. Speaking to The Avondhu, he said he was ‘absolutely stunned’ to hear of her death this week.
“I would like to extend my sympathies to her family and many friends. I know she was a hugely popular person around the county and further afield. She was a tremendous support to me on the 1916 Commemoration Committee – she was the heart and soul of the committee. She was a great community person, her passing will leave a major void. She was a larger than life person, a lovely person, someone who was always willing to help,” he said.
Cllr Kay Dawson described her former colleague as a ‘fun person, a wonderful speaker who cared for the community’. “It was such a shock to get the news. She was very articulate and above all she was a colleague. I’m thinking of her family at this time,”
Cllr Noel McCarthy added his sympathies to Cllr Cullinane’s family: “It’s tragic news and my heart goes out to her friends and family. As a Cobh man myself I knew Claire for many years. She was such a nice person, she had great positivity and she will be sorely missed,” he said.
