Dunsilly tribute to 'Jerry from Kerry'

SINN Féin Councillor Lucille O’Hagan has welcomed the large turnout for a tribute dinner held in the Dunsilly Hotel last night in honour the late Jerry Holyoake.

“I was honoured to attend a tribute dinner in the Dunsilly Hotel to reflect on the life of the late Jerry Holyoake whose first anniversary occurs later this month,” she said.

“Jerry was a very special friend, a comrade and an all-round gentleman.

“Known fondly as ‘Jerry from Kerry’, he was a lifelong Irish republican and a founding member of Cumann Baile Aontroma (Antrim Town Cumann), the local branch of Sinn Féin.

“As a key activist, Jerry Holyoake was central to building electoral support for Sinn Féin in Antrim Town.

“He was driven by a strong sense of social justice and was often to the forefront of campaigns to deliver change, especially in the Springfarm estate where he lived.

“Passionate about Gaelic games, he immersed himself in the local St Comgall’s GAC, and went on to play a key role in laying the foundation for what was to become the GAA Centre of Excellence at Dunsilly.

“I was delighted to be among a packed room of friends and family, from across Ireland and beyond, who turned out to remember Jerry and to celebrate his life.

“His legacy lives on in South Antrim Sinn Féin’s electoral growth, particularly in Antrim Town, and in the state-of-the-art GAA facilities now established at Dunsilly.”