Stalwart of community radio Mark was a charitable man

MARK O’Toole has been remembered as a stalwart of community radio in Tallaght and as a charitable man who was heavily involved in the D12 Food Bank.

Mark, who passed away peacefully in Tallaght University Hospital on March 22 after suffering a stroke, was a native of Castle Park in Tallaght and a long-time Walkinstown resident.

He developed an enduring passion for community radio after becoming involved in Tallaght Community Radio in the 1980s, when he was around 20-years-old.

John Conroy, who volunteered alongside Mark at the radio station, told The Echo: “Mark was very, very enthusiastic, and he was committed to the idea of community radio.

“He gave an enormous amount of his free time to it and was very much on top of the technical side of things.

“He was always a very, very popular guy within the station and on the air.”

Mark was involved with Tallaght Community Radio right up until it closed in the 1990s, and after that he set up an online radio station called Charity Radio.

Based in Walkinstown, the station is manned by volunteers and plays a mix of music from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and supports charities around the country.

In a Facebook post, a member of Charity Radio wrote: “It is with profound sadness, that we inform you of the passing of our very dear friend and colleague Mark O’Toole who died peacefully in Tallaght Hospital on Friday afternoon [March 22], following a stroke on Thursday evening at 6.30pm.

“Mark is survived by his loving wife Catherine, and beloved daughter Josephine (Jo).

“May he rest in peace.”

When asked what he believes motivated his former colleague’s passion for Tallaght Community Radio, John said: “I think it was, like most people who were involved, that he had a great belief in Tallaght.

“We felt that people in Tallaght needed media that reached into their homes alongside The Echo, in the way social media reaches into people’s homes nowadays.”

John remembers Mark as a dedicated colleague who was approachable and helpful and very tech-savvy.

“Mark was very enthusiastic, very business-like, very to-the-point, and he would help people if they asked for help, or if you didn’t want help, he’d stand back,” he said.

“He was very unobtrusive.”

Mark’s legacy extends beyond his radio work into his involvement in the D12 Food Bank and has been fondly remembered around Walkinstown for his selfless contributions to the area.

Mark passed away in Tallaght University Hospital surrounded by his loving wife Catherine and his adored daughter Jo.

Mark is sadly missed by his heartbroken family, wife, daughter and her partner Alex, father Paddy and his wife Ita, brothers Brian and Pat, sisters Hazel and Emer, father-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.