FINGAL lost a number of popular figures in the community this year and their lives and achievements were chartered and remembered in the pages of the Fingal Independent. There was no bigger giant in his community than the late great Jack Benton, a local historian and archivist and a man who lived in the same house in Balbriggan for all of his 83 years. His death brought an overwhelming response from the town who used the auspices of Balbriggan.net to pour out their affection for the man that could rightly be called 'Mr Balbriggan'. The town also lost a major political figure this year with the passing of Bredge Tuite who soldiered on behalf of Balbriggan residents on the town council for many years.

She finally lost her long and brave battle with cancer and was remembered by her former town council colleague, May McKeon who described Bredge as 'a brilliant ambassador for Balbriggan and a 'champion' for the town at local and national level.

Also in Balbriggan, the sudden death of well-known local man Martin Mullen, who for two decades was the manager of the local credit union, made its mark. The 49-year-old died while on holiday with his family in France in September, much to the shock and sadness of all his family, friends and colleagues. Martin, a native of Balbriggan, worked in the financial sector in London in the early 80s until he returned to the North Fingal town.

In the 20 years that Martin was with the credit union, he helped forge Balbriggan into one of the fastest growing and successful credit unions in the country. He was survived by his wife Claire, daughter Liza and sons, Stewart, Gavin and Daniel. The community of Kinsealy/Melrose lost one of its champions this year as community stalwart, Liam Rodgers lost his long battle with illness.

Liam never let his personal health battles get in the way of fighting for his community and until the very end he used every last drop of energy he had to improve the lot of people in Kinsealy/Melrose and chase his dream of delivering a community centre for the area. Everyone who knew him, knew the passion he had for his community and the effort he expended on their behalf, every day - he will be sadly missed.

'A beautiful dreamer' is how former councillor and Malahide resident Maurice Ahern described his son Dylan, who recently died suddenly at his Santry apartment.

Poetry, fashion, a love of history and politics, an active interest in sport and a love of 'the big occasion' were some of the interests that defined the 37-year-old, according to his heart-broken father. The two men went running together just two days before Dylan was found dead lying on his bed at his Santry home by his flatmate.

'It has been awful - not easy at all. It is not the natural order of things for a father to bury his son,' Maurice Ahern told the Fingal Independent.

The family referred to Dylan as 'Didi' and his father remembers him simply as 'brilliant' and 'a lovely fella'.

'He loved a sense of occasion and big events like an AllIreland final or a big family occasion. He would have loved his funeral actually - we had the Taoiseach down at the house saying a prayer over his coffin and President Mary McAleese rang the house personally,' Dylan's father said.

Mick McCarthy, who ran Wright's Café Bar on the Malahide Road, died suddenly at home from an apparent heart attack on Friday, December 4th.

Popular and affable, the Newbridge native had built a warm rapport with customers and clients during his relatively short time in Swords and his death has shocked the town.

' The Wright Bar Group would like to express their sincere condolences to the family of the late manager of Wright's Café Bar, Mick McCarthy, on his recent untimely death,' a spokesperson for Wright's said.

'Our sympathies are with his wife Susan and his children Leah, Kelli and Dean at this sad time. Mick made a big impression on all the staff and customers alike and will be sorely missed in Swords.'

Players at Swords Rugby Club, whom Wright's sponsor, wore black armbands in the match following Mick's death and a club spokesperson said: 'Mick was a true gentleman, who had a real interest in rugby and the club and our thoughts are with his family and friends.'