Tributes paid as hospitals’ trust stalwart dies

TRIBUTES have been paid to the late Louis Creaven, who as chairman of the Mid-Western Hospitals Development Trust, led many health initiatives in the region.

Mr Creaven, who lived at Robin Hill, Newmarket-on-Fergus, successfully fought for many facilities in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital.

When a decision was taken to bypass Limerick with the provision of radiotherapy services in Dublin, Cork and Galway, Mr Creavensuccessfully challenged the move and forced the Department of Health into a U-turn when he announced the trust already had the funds to pay for a radiotherapy unit through funding from the JP McManus foundation.

Mr Creaven was chairman of the hospitals development trust for more than 24 years.

HSE mid-west area manager Bernard Gloster said: “Louis Creaven was a pivotal figure in the work of the trust which has provided a significant range of equipment and infrastructure to health services in the region. He had a major impact in health service provision in the mid-west. His contribution in the fields of cancer care, maternity services, orthopaedics and renal medicine was immense. All can be rightly proud of his achievements. Louis had a strong sense of public duty and social purpose matched by an unfailing sense of commitment. He would have been the last person to seek praise but he is deserving of our gratitude in ways most people will never know.”

Hundreds last night attended the removal from Carrigoran Nursing Home to Newmarket-on-Fergus parish church. Burial will take place today after Requiem Mass at noon.