Posted online: Nov 11th, 2009

A much-loved member of the Buncrana community was laid to rest yesterday.
Columba Quigley was a well-known and respected figure in the local community, having participated in the life of the town through his contributions as a teacher, secretary of Buncrana Tidy Towns Committee and local notes correspondent for the area.
He sadly passed away on Sunday and following yesterday’s 11.00am Requiem Mass at St Mary’s, Cockhill, was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery.
Cllr Rena Donaghey, who worked alongside Mr Quigley, said the community would feel his loss deeply.
“Columba was a highly respected and very hard working member of the community,” she said. “He taught in Crana College for a long number of years as a PE teacher and was a very popular member of the public.
“He was in Tidy Towns for two years and in that relatively short time he made a huge impression.”
She continued: “Ever since he joined he was very eager and very energetic; he took on board what we wanted to put across and set up the website for Buncrana Tidy Towns, that was all his doing, and it has been a very worthwhile project.
“We were even shortlisted for the Zurich Award in Dublin and Columba travelled with his sister and me along to that.”
Cllr Donaghey said he always done his best for his town.
“He always had Buncrana at heart; as secretary of Buncrana Tidy Towns, he was the hardest working secretary we ever had,” she said.
“He will be sadly and greatly missed by everyone that knew him, not least the members of Buncrana Tidy Towns.”
She added: “I just want to take this opportunity to extend our very sincere sympathy to his wife and children on their very sad loss.”
Mr. Quigley is survived by his wife Eileen, sons John and Dermot and daughter Colleen.