Tony had a huge impact on the local community
By Mary Dennehy
TRIBUTES are being made to a dedicated community worker who sadly passed away after suffering a heart attack while out walking in Killinarden on Sunday March 4.
Dad of seven and doting grandad to eight, Tony Nolan was remembered for the lasting and invaluable impact he has had on his family, community and those he worked with and supported through his years with Obair, the Local Employment Office.
Tony Nolan sadly passed away
On Sunday, March 4, Tony (61) was walking back from the shops through Killinarden with his dog Coco when he suffered a heart attack and collapsed.
Local people in the area rushed to Tony’s aid, with some starting CPR and others bringing out blankets.
When the emergency services arrived on the scene they were unable to reach Tony.
However, residents assisted paramedics by helping to carry equipment on foot while others shovelled out a path for the emergency vehicles.
The actions and support of the Killinarden community have since been praised by the Nolan family, who have been given comfort by the care Tony was shown by his community.
Cecil Johnston, a Kilinarden resident and colleague of Tony’s, was in the area at the time and told The Echo: “The community really came out in force to help Tony and the emergency services – with people trying to dig a way for the ambulance.”
Working with Tony for more than 20 years, Cecil said: “Tony had a great way with his work colleagues and clients and was over the years very supportive and helpful to many people.
“His work was very important to him and whatever support he could provide for people, he did.
“Tony was a very helpful, kind and fun loving person.”
Manchester City supporter
Tony, who was a massive Manchester City supporter, worked with Obair for 23 years and was also a voluntary Board member of the Tallaght Centre for the Unemployed for many years.
Speaking with The Echo, Catherine Devlin, Tony’s colleague and manager of the Local Enterprise Office in the Brookfield Enterprise Centre, said: “Tony worked with so many people over the years to help them get working or into education or training.
“He loved his job and the clients loved him.
“He always had the banter with the clients and told them exactly how it was… and helped so many people on the right path to employment.
“He had a huge impact on the community… [and his clients] were definitely not just a number to him.”
She added: “For those of us that worked with Tony, we’d look forward to coming into work to see him.
“He was so much fun and larger than life and a day didn’t go by that there wasn’t some laughter in the office, and it was usually generated by Tony.
“The office will not be the same without him but we’ll keep up his Man City memorabilia that he had around the office.”
Tony was reposed at his home on Thursday and was then brought to the Church of the Sacred Heart in Killinarden last Friday morning at 11.30am and afterwards to Newlands Cross Cemetery.
TAGS Tallaght
