Vera Hewitt was a giant of local government in Tipperary and a champion of the people

A special meeting of Clonmel Borough District was convened on Monday morning to allow elected representatives to pay tribute to Vera Hewitt.

The Mayor of Clonmel, Cllr Pat English, said Vera Hewitt was a tireless worker on behalf of the ordinary man and woman.
“Vera was a people person who always had the time to have a chat with local people or those who came to visit Clonmel from near and far,” he said.

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The Mayor described Vera Hewitt as a fantastic public representative who had given a lifetime of service to the town.

Cllr Siobhán Ambrose told the special meeting that Vera Hewitt was a champion for the town.
Cllr Ambrose said Vera Hewitt was a business woman whom everyone remembered for going into the counter at the family bakery on Mitchell Street.

“She gave everybody her time, she was always on the street,” said Cllr Ambrose.
Cllr Ambrose reflected on the influential role Vera played in so many organisations, including the business life of the town, as a public representative, her involvement with the Chamber of Commerce,Tidy Towns and Entente Florale.

Cllr Ambrose said everybody in Fianna Fáil were very proud of Vera and the contribution she made to the party and to public life.

“Vera had a wonderful life, she had an infectious laugh and was always in good humour,” said Cllr Ambrose.
Cllr John Fitzgerald said Vera Hewitt was a businesswoman first and foremost.
She was a wonderful person whose activities were genuinely discharged because of her belief and dedication to public service.

“She had a great ability to meet people. The town of Clonmel was one of her great loves and she did her duty with great dignity,” said Cllr Fitzgerald.

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Cllr Richie Molloy said Vera was always very proud of her shop window in Mitchell Street as she decorated it beautifully on all of the major occasions like St Patrick’s Day and Easter.

“It was lovely to walk down Mitchell Street this morning and see a beautiful display of pictures in the window of the bakery,” said Cllr Molloy.

He described Vera Hewitt as a true phenomenon for the town and for all the organisations to which she gave her time.
“The energy she had was incredible, and Vera was very enthusiastic about everything she did,” said Cllr Molloy.

Cllr Niall Dennehy said he served as a public representative with Vera Hewitt for ten years at a time when there were twelve members.

Cllr Dennehy recalled the battles and debates and said it was like a cauldron in the chamber in those years.
“Vera was a professional public representative and was very proud to serve the town and serve the people of the town, which she did with great dignity and respect,” said Cllr Dennehy.

Cllr Tom Acheson said Vera Hewitt wore several hats in her lifetime. She was a very prominent business woman, and the family business was an institution in the town of Clonmel.

Cllr Acheson said the family business not only served Clonmel but also the extensive hinterland, where many people who made their weekly visit to Clonmel made it their business to call into the bakery to bring some of the Hewitt specialities home to their families.

He said Vera Hewitt was a very proud member of Fianna Fáil who had served the people of the town so well and was very proud to do so.

District Manager Jonathan Cooney said Vera Hewitt was part of the DNA of the town of Clonmel. Throughout her life she was always a very friendly and encouraging person.

Cllr Andy Moloney recalled meeting Vera in the Denis Lacey Hall. She was a woman with very high standards.
He recalled a story about Vera and Maureen McNamara who were organising the St Patrick’s Day Parade for years.

He was part of a float with a theme based on the Army deafness issue and it was seen to be in bad taste at the time so in future years Vera ensured an inspector was sent out to see if his float was in good taste before it was allowed to enter.

Deputy Mattie McGrath said he first met Vera at the Denis Lacey Hall.
“She was a very kind person and gentle person who had the interests of the town totally at heart. She was a dedicated public servant,” said Deputy McGrath.

Paul Murray, a former town clerk, said Vera was the consummate lady, businessperson and public representative.
He remembers the debates in the chamber that had been alluded to earlier in the meeting and said Vera brought a great calmness to those debates. She was a voice of reason who commanded great respect.

In a separate tribute, Deputy Michael Murphy said Vera Hewitt left behind an extraordinary legacy.

“A giant of local government, she was such a positive force for Clonmel, indeed a wonderful servant of Clonmel, and so much more, including her exceptional traits of character. Vera was ‘simply the best,’ and I consider myself very fortunate to have known her,” said Deputy Murphy.