Councillors of Letterkenny and Milford held a minute’s silence today in memory of the late Damien Blake.
Damien, who served as the youngest-ever Mayor of Letterkenny, passed away last week, aged 41.
Mayor of Letterkenny-Milford Cllr Kevin Bradley led the tributes to Damien during today’s September municipal district meeting. Each member of the MD expressed their sympathies to Damien’s family.
Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh spoke of how Damien had a very bright future ahead of him, but was sadly taken far too soon.
“He was a very bright, talented young man,” Cllr Kavanagh said.
“Everything he did, and everything he was going to do, he was way ahead of everyone else.”
Damien was elected to Letterkenny Town Council as a Fianna Fáil candidate in June 2004. The following year, at the age of 22, he was elected as the town’s first citizen. Outside of politics, his talent for technology led him to be employed by Google. Damien helped set up Strawberry Media before later lecturing at the then Letterkenny Institute of Technology.
“He was a great all-round guy,” said Cllr Gerry McMonagle. “He had a great vision and he loved Letterkenny. Developing Letterkenny was his whole ambition.”
Cllr McMonagle recalled first meeting Damien on the canvas trail in 2004, with his round spectacles, curly hair and a big smile. The two candidates shook hands and agreed that they would work together for the better of the town.
“He has left a wonderful legacy for himself. May he rest in peace,” Cllr McMonagle said.
