Loughrea Co-op Mart LTD has paid tribute to its longest-serving manager, Thomas (Gus) Egan, who passed away last week.
The Loughrea, Co Galway native, died at Galway University Hospital on Tuesday, May 31st, 2022, and his funeral took place last weekend.
During one of its recent sales, Jimmy Cooney, the mart’s current manager, paid tribute to Egan, who “spent 40 years of his life at Loughrea Mart”.
Management and staff observed a minute’s silence for Gus, who served as secretary of the mart and later secured an administrative role before he was appointed manager.
Cooney said: “I think you will all agree that he did a good job at Loughrea Mart. He dedicated his life to Loughrea Mart and served as manager for forty years.”
Loughrea Mart
A spokesperson on behalf of the committee and staff of Loughrea Mart said:
“Sincere sympathy to Mae, Thomas, Marian, Patricia, Caroline, Nuala, Noel, brother, Patsy, sister, Dina, and the extended family on the passing of Gus.”
“A founding member of Loughrea Co-operative Mart, Gus worked tirelessly for the mart and the farming community. He devoted most of his life to the business. Thanks for the memories. RIP,” the spokesperson said.
Tributes have continued to pour in online through RIP.ie. One wrote that “he championed people management in his long involvement with Loughrea Mart”.
Another said they have “great memories of days gone by in Loughrea Mart”, while another said that he was “so well-known from managing Loughrea Mart and was highly regarded in the community”.
Another explained that “his passing brings back a lot of memories of his time in the mart, buzzing busily about the place”.
Meanwhile, another described Gus as a man of “great” ability, integrity, and wit, while another described him as “a very approachable and kind” man.
Another wrote: “I have great memories of working in Loughrea Mart, with Gus at the helm for almost 50 happy years. He was a maestro at resolving farmers’ issues in his own inimitable way.”
Carrigallen Mart and Baltinglass Mart
Joseph Kinsella of Baltinglass Mart and Helen Kells of Carrigallen Mart were among those who paid tribute to Egan.
He said: “Sincere condolences to Mae and the Egan family on the passing of your husband, father & grandfather.”
“He was a kind and able chairman of ALM for many years. We were so sorry to hear of his passing. May his gentle soul rest in everlasting peace,” he concluded.
Helen Kells of Carrigallen Mart said: “Deepest sympathy to Mae & family on the sad passing of Gus, an absolute gentleman.”
“I really enjoyed the mart trips that I attended and was so lucky to have got to know Gus. May he rest in peace,” she concluded.
 Egan, who passed away last week.){kind=link}