Councillors pay tribute to ‘true Droghedean’ Vincent
Mayor of Drogheda Paul Bell led the tributes to legendary local man Vincent Hoey at the November meeting of Drogheda Municipal District describing him as a ‘ true Droghedean’ who dedicated his life to supporting the citizens of the town.
Extending his condolences to the family and friends of Vincent, Mayor Bell said Vincent was no stranger to anyone on the council or indeed anyone in Drogheda. Acknowledging his long association with Drogheda United, Mayor Bell said he wanted to pay particular tribute to Vincent’s work with the Drogheda City Status Group.
‘He was very proud of his town and of the citizens of Drogheda,’ said Councillor Bell, adding the last time he had seen him was at an Old Drogheda Society event when Vincent had given a great anecdotal overview of his life growning up on the Chord Road.
Councillor Joanna Byrne said Vincent was like a ‘second grandfather’ to her, coming as she does from a Drogheda United family.
‘I’ve known Vincent all my life. He was Drogheda through and through. I’d say if you cut him down the middle he’d be claret and blue inside,’ she said.
‘He dared us to dream, to believe that we could play with the big boys.’
She also praised his trojan work with the Drogheda City Status campaign.
‘We are forever indebted to him for all he did to develop this town and I think we should be building on that,’ Cllr Byrne added. Extending his sympathies to the family, Councillor Paddy McQuillan said the town had lost ‘a visonary’ and ‘a really good Drogheda man’. Describing his work to better the town as ‘altruism at its highest’, Councillor Pio Smith said Vincent was one of those rare people who did things because they were the right thing to do for the betterment of the tow and not for any personal accolades.