Obituaries

Dave (Deace) Mackey – pioneering official made huge contribution to local government

An Appreciation

David Mackey: a man not afraid to make daring decisions

Billy Parker
Mon Apr 18 2022 - 00:01

His party piece was King of the Road. He travelled many roads in his exceptional life and career and it’s fair to say he was the king of each and every one.

Roads that led him to ever expanding roles in local government all around the country beginning in 1968 as a 19-year-old in his native Donegal where he was the director of the Donegal Regional Development Organisation and the youngest ever acting county secretary.

In 1981, he took the long road south to Tipperary where he was county secretary and then assistant county manager.

Returning closer to home he was appointed county manager in Cavan in 1988, where he was instrumental in the development of new water and sewerage schemes, public and private housing developments, civic improvements, urban renewal schemes, road improvements and improved pollution controls.

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He was an innovator and pioneer and perhaps his greatest legacy in local government is that so many of his initiatives were imitated throughout the country and are now regarded as best practice, such as the first archaeological survey of any county, which was carried out in Donegal at his direction, his appointment of an arts officer and county horticulturist and his spearheading of many cross-Border projects.

A man not afraid to make daring decisions, a new road brought him into the heart of industry when he joined the Quinn Group in 1989 where he was instrumental in its huge diversification and another road in 1999 when he then joined P Elliott as chief executive officer of the construction company as it headed into a period of rapid expansion during the boom years.

In a state of perpetual motion, yet another road led to his chairmanship of the executive committee of Croke Park and membership of the GAA Central Management Committee where he oversaw the planning and completion of one of the finest sporting stadiums in the world. He also found time to provide invaluable assistance in the redevelopment of the Ruislip GAA grounds in London.

These were all bright shining highways on his remarkable journey, but he also travelled the lesser lit byways where he quietly but with endless generosity supported and guided lesser-known organisations which were no less important to him.

He was chairperson of the South West Fermanagh Development Organisation; a board member of the Shannon Erne Waterways; the Chairperson of the Central Fisheries Board; a director of the Cavan Innovation and Technology Centre and a director of Eirgrid plc.

In recognition of his exceptional public service work and volunteering he was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws by Maynooth University in 2004.

Despite these many and varied roads, they always ultimately led to one destination, his home.

There he was surrounded by his loving wife Marian and children, Catherine David and Edward, all of whom he adored.

He was also surrounded by his many passions – his magnificent garden, his collections of rare books, vinyl records, CDs, paintings, toy soldiers, match programmes and stamps.

Success, which is never inevitable or predestined, is largely founded on hard work and perseverance and these traits Dave had in abundance, yet he was extraordinarily generous with his time and had a great capacity to give of himself.

A true gentleman, he was always courteous and hugely charming.

Each of us have and each of us need special individuals in our lives whose friendship and support we rely on and who we are better for knowing.

For me and countless others, Dave was one of those special people.

He has left his neighbourhood, his people and his counties of Donegal and Cavan in a better place.

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