Book of condolences to be opened for former mayor of Fermoy

Michael Joseph Hanley, former mayor of Fermoy, died at age 84 on May 2 in Fermoy Hospital, surrounded by family. He was first elected in 1985 as a Fine Gael candidate to the Fermoy Urban District Council, later leaving the party. He was re-elected as an Independent councillor in every subsequent election until retiring from politics in 2014. He served as mayor of Fermoy Town Council from 2011 to 2013. He ran a successful newsagent in Pearse Square that became synonymous with Fermoy and retired from the business in 2017. Warm tributes were delivered at a Fermoy Municipal District meeting, praising his hard work, popularity, business leadership, and efforts to preserve and open initiatives for the town.

"Mr Hanley died on Saturday, May 2 in Fermoy Hospital, surrounded by his family. First elected as a Fine Gael candidate to the then Fermoy Urban District Council in 1985, Mr Hanley soon parted ways with the party. He was re-elected as an Independent councillor in every subsequent election until 2014, when he retired from politics. He served as mayor of Fermoy Town Council from 2011 to 2013."

"Fianna Fáil councillor Frank O'Flynn who proposed a vote of sympathy and opening a book of condolence in the Town Chamber said the late Mr Hanley was part and parcel of Fermoy town. "He was a very successful politician and businessman. He worked extremely hard. He founded the Fermoy Business Association. He always looked to the future. He was very popular. He always topped the poll and there was always tremendous goodwill for Michael. He will be a big loss to Fermoy and the surrounding area.""

"Fine Gael councillor Kay Dawson also expressed her sympathies to his wife and family. "He was a legend. He told me that I would be mad to get into politics. His legacy is there. He saved things in Fermoy that would have been gone. He opened things that would never have been opened. His work is much appreciated.""

"Aontú councillor Peter O'Donoghue said Michael Hanley was a fantastic man for Fermoy and the surrounding area. "He put so much energy into the town and brought so much business to the town. We see today the frui"

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