Peadar Martin was former Mayor of Drogheda and greatly respected

MR Peadar Martin, who died, this veek in his 90th year was a former Mayor of Drogheda. He is survived by his wife, Winifred, his sons and two daughters and grandchildren.

Peader Martin, a distinguished member of the Labour Party, was Mayor of Drogheda from 1955 to 1956. and again from 1966 to 1967. A man of stature, utmost courtesy and immense integrity, his word was his bond.

Born at Highfield House, Ballymakenny Road, Drogheda on December 5 1905, Peadar Martin was fourth of a family of seven, six sons and, one daughter. His father, John Martin, an engineer, hailed from Co. Fermanagh where his father managed the gardens on Lord Erne’s estate at Crom Castle.

His mother, Elizabeth Carson, was a presbyterian from Ballanahinch, Co. Down.

Peader was educated at Drogheda CBS, sitting the Senior Certificate at 16 years before joining the staff of the now defunct Drogheda Chemical Manure Company as a Laboratory Assistant. He remained with the company until his retirement in 1970.

He was politically drawn to the Labour Party and joined the Drogheda branch in 1943. He was first elected to Drogheda Corporation and Louth County Council on the Labour ticket in 1945, heading a small Labour group in the Drogheda Council Chamber where he and his friend and colleague, Coir. Jimmy Murphy, formed the nucleus of a ‘Labour Opposition’ for many years.

He was also a valued member of the Drogheda Vocational Education Committee.

Mr. Martin enjoyed good health until the past few years when his strength declined.

He was a firm believer in the empowerment of Local Government and was an advocate of the Rates system which he saw as a necessity for the maintenance of local services.

The Mayor of Drogheda, Ald. Frank Godfrey, paying tribute to Mr. Martin, said he was a most charming and likeable man and a much respected member of Drogheda Corporation. He had twice held the office of Mayor and, until very recent times had maintained his great interest in local affairs and in the progress of the Corporation and its members. ‘He was a thorough gentleman and will be sadly missed by all of us’.