Former Omagh District Council chairman, Wilfred Breen, ‘known throughout Ireland’

Tributes have been paid to prolific letter writer and former chairman of Omagh District Council Wilfred Breen, who has died at age 91.
By Philip Bradfield
Published 17th Aug 2020, 06:30 GMT
Wilfred Breen, a former chair of Omagh District Council and prolific political and religious letter writer, has died aged 91Wilfred Breen, a former chair of Omagh District Council and prolific political and religious letter writer, has died aged 91
Wilfred Breen, a former chair of Omagh District Council and prolific political and religious letter writer, has died aged 91

Mr Breen, who lived in Omagh, died at the South West Acute Hospital, with his funeral service being held at his home church Clanabogan Parish Church yesterday. He is survived by his wife Ruby.

Speaking at his funeral service, Canon Robert Clarke paid tribute to Mr Breen, a former UUP councillor who served as chairman of Omagh District Council.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“In all my 30-plus years as rector here, the number of times Wilfred was absent from worship could be counted on two hands,” he said.

He said that Mr Breen graduated from Trinity College Dublin and became a teacher of history, religious education and music, latterly at Duke of Westminster School in Kesh.

“He was gifted with a very sharp retentive brain and his capacity of recall and recollection was second to none.”

Mr Breen was a member of the loyal orders, having served as district chaplain. He also founded Blacksessiagh Junior Orange Lodge and Blacksessiagh Accordion Band.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He was known personally to BBC Talkback presenters David Dunseith and Wendy Austin, and a prolific writer to newspaper letters pages, in particular the News Letter, on politics and religion, “so much so that his name was well known throughout the 32 counties of this island”.

He was the church organist for over 50 years, Sunday school superintendent, served on the select vestry and was also one of the first diocesan lay readers, he added.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor

Related topics:Northern IrelandOmaghUUP