Tributes paid to ‘decent, humble’ former SDLP mayor of Limavady Michael Carten
Michael Carten has been described as a true community servant who had a genuine sense of duty following his sad passing at the age of 96.
The former SDLP Mayor of Limavady died peacefully at Altnagelvin surrounded by his family last Wednesday.
SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter said: "I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Michael Carten. Michael was a proud SDLP representative who served his community with decency, humility and a genuine sense of duty.”
The Baranailt-man served the Bellarena District Electoral Area on the old Limavady Borough Council for 14 years from 1997.
He became the oldest ever first citizen of Limavady when he took on the mayoralty at the age of 80 in 2010-11.
Coincidentally, Mr. Carten’s time as mayor coincided with that of his party colleague Colum Eastwood in Derry City. Mr. Eastwood was 27 at the time, 53 years Michael’s junior.
At the time of his inauguration, the then Mayor Carten said: “I wish him the very best. It’s great to see it, he’s young and he has his whole life in front of him. I wish I’d got it when I was 27!”
A farmer by trade and inclination, Mr. Carten, was renowned for his rural constituency work in the Glack and Baranailt townlands particularly.
It was through his offices that Loughermore received proper water and electricity connections in the late 1990s after he pressed the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Alfred Dubs on the matter.
"As a councillor for the Bellarena area and later as Mayor of Limavady, he gave many years of dedicated public service and was deeply respected for the way he carried out those roles.
"Above all else, Michael was a devoted family man, my thoughts are with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchild, and all those across Bellarena and beyond who are mourning his loss. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam,” said Ms. Hunter.
Mr. Carten was respected across the political spectrum.
Former DUP MLA George Robinson, an old sparring partner from their time as councillors, said: “Very sorry to hear of Mickey’s passing. He was a true gentleman and a former Councillor on the old Limavady Borough Council.
"He and l served on various Council Committees. I also worked with Mickey in Shackleton Barracks quite a few years ago. My sincere condolences to all Mickey's family.”
DUP MLA Alan Robinson said: “I enjoyed serving with Mickey on the former Limavady Borough Council. In a night of heated angry exchanges in the Chamber, Mickey would have been a voice of reason and would have cracked a joke at the end of a meeting to lighten the otherwise angry mood. The community will be sorry to hear of his passing.”
Mr. Carten is mourned by his children Gerard, Paul, Marie, Helen, Michael, Sean and Damien, grandchildren Callum, Ciara, Eimear, Myrid, Tilly and Martha and great-granddaughter Maggie Ray and his wider family circle.
He was laid to rest in St. Finlough’s graveyard following Requiem Mass in the church on Saturday.