Page 25 - The 17th Percy French Festival: The Quest for Authenticity

Past Contributors/Supporters

Tribute to councillor Tribute to a Lifelong supporter
Anthony Waldron Sile O Connor

The death of Councillor Anthony Waldron, 9th February 2025, Mary Cecilia Dominica O’Connor, Sile, as she was commonly
festival committee member, is a very great loss to his siblings, known, was a great supporter and enthusiast of the Percy
friends, GAA community and to larger society as a whole. French Festival since its inception. Her keen intellect and
Tony was always very pleasant, agreeable, mannerly and a great insights into issues both local and national often provided
communicator. He never imposed himself upon you, though he a formidable thrust to the direction and theme the festival
was steadfast and ardent in his tireless efforts for togetherness would take in a given year.

and unity in community and parish.
She had a lifelong passion and love for the customs and

learning of rural Ireland and as a result dedicated most of her
Tony represented the local, he knew the importance of locality,
life to preserving these treasures. She also had a great appre -
the importance of amenities in that locality to hold it together
ciation for art, particularly, but not exclusively, for Irish art.
and he worked hard to bring the local(s) and the issues therein

to the forefront of all his efforts. If the retaining, the reviving or
She was devoutly religious and would be correctly described
the founding of something meant unity for that particular local
as holy. She had a great fondness for Saint Brigit and for Knock
community or part thereof, then Tony was at the helm. And it’s
as peculiarly Irish traditions. She particularly enjoyed the
very, very sad now to lose that tireless gospel in our midst today.
outdoor sites like shrines and wells, and faith was something
Especially as these values, he espoused–the other, family, com -
that was very real in her.
mu nity–are being subsumed today for a focus on the self-first,
resulting in isolation and its devastating loneliness. Sile is sadly missed, especially her lateral thinking, big heart,
good humor, and sense of devilment all the time.
Tony moved quietly, almost apologetically, never with exultation
and the sudden death of a dear friend confronts us with ques -
tions such as should we have kept in touch more often, was it our
busyness, or lack of contact that leaves us feeling so bereft and
lost after their untimely passing.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

THE QUEST FOR AUTHENTICIT Y •23 •