Tributes to former Northern Ireland mayor and prominent business figure with a 'genuine passion for helping others succeed'
Tributes have been paid to PJ McAvoy, honorary chairman of Ballymena Business Centre and former SDLP councillor, whose decades of service left a lasting mark on local politics and enterprise.
Former Mayor of Ballymena and prominent business figure Patrick Joseph (PJ) McAvoy has been remembered as a leader with a “genuine passion for helping others succeed”.
Mr McAvoy, who died peacefully at Slemish Nursing Home on February 19, was honorary chairman of Ballymena Business Centre and a former SDLP councillor.
Paying tribute to her late colleague, Melanie Christie-Boyle, company chief executive, Ballymena Business Centre, said he was a man whose dedication and leadership left a lasting mark on the business centre and the wider community.
She added: “As a founding company director in 1990 and later chairman, PJ was instrumental in the establishment of Ballymena Business Centre. His commitment to supporting local enterprise and fostering growth was evident throughout his many years of voluntary service.
"As a leader, he brought not only vision and experience, but also warmth, integrity, and a genuine passion for helping others succeed.
"PJ's influence helped shape Ballymena Business Centre into a vital support network for countless individuals and businesses from across the Ballymena area.”
In 2025 PJ was presented with the award of honorary chairman by the directors of the centre in recognition of his decades of voluntary service.
"Beyond his commitment to Ballymena Business Centre, PJ will fondly be remembered for his leadership in politics where kindness, and respect was showed to everyone across our community. His legacy will continue to inspire all those who had the privilege of knowing him.
"Our heartfelt condolences and prayers are extended to PJ’s family and friends at this difficult time. He will be greatly missed by everyone at Ballymena Business Centre.”
Also offering sympathy to the McAvoy family was former SDLP councillor and MLA Declan O’Loan, who said: “P J McAvoy was an excellent colleague and made a great contribution to Ballymena Borough Council. He was first elected in 1985 and went on to serve as a councillor for thirty years.”
He added that Mr McAvoy was the first representative of a nationalist political party to be elected to the council and he came to be liked and respected on all sides.
Having served as Alderman for many years, then Deputy Mayor, he went on to become Mayor of Ballymena, which Mr O’Loan said was PJ’s “finest hour, and he made the most of it, working to get everyone to agree that Liam Neeson be granted the Freedom of the Borough”.
"As a proud Ballymena man all his life, PJ made the most of that illustrious occasion. He was punctilious too in preparing for his meetings and dealing with all the queries that come from the public. In many ways, he was the model of a good hard working local councillor. His family can take great pride in his achievements.”
A Funeral Times notice said Mr McAvoy was the beloved son of the late Thomas and Annie, loving brother of Colette, Martin, Tony, Marie and the late Teresa and Anne; brother-in-law of Jim (Craig), Don (Phillips), Liz and the late Brian (Anderson) and a loving uncle.
His remains will be removed from Henry’s Funeral Parlour, Broughshane Street, Ballymena, on Monday, February 23, at 9.30am, to All Saints Church for funeral after 10am Requiem Mass.