Tributes have been paid to former Mayor of Clonmel Vera Hewitt, who has died at the age of 87.
The Fianna Fáil stalwart served as a councillor from 1985 to 2004 - first on Clonmel Corporation and later on Clonmel Borough Council following its establishment in 2002.
Ms Hewitt was elected Mayor of Clonmel on two occasions - first in 1991 and then in 1998.
She was also well-known in the local community for her involvement in her family's bakery on Mitchel Street in the town.
During her term as mayor in 1992, Ms Hewitt welcomed then president of Ireland Mary Robinson to Clonmel.
It marked a historic moment as it was the first time a female mayor welcomed a female president to the town.
Ms Hewitt later also extended a civic welcome to president Mary McAleese in May 1999.
She was involved with several other local organisations as president of Clonmel Chamber of Commerce and co-founder of the South Tipperary Mental Health Association.
Ms Hewitt was also a member of both the Clonmel Tidy Towns Committee and Clonmel Bianconi Twinning Committee.
A spokesperson for the Clonmel Borough District paid tribute to Ms Hewitt.
District Administrator Carol Creighton said: "A passionate advocate for international links and cultural exchange, Vera Hewitt also played an active role on the Town Twinning Committee and was a strong promoter of Clonmel's twinning partnerships.
"She travelled to Peoria and Costa Masnaga on several occasions as part of her commitment to fostering these valued connections."
Ms Hewitt is predeceased by her husband, Billy, and survived by her children Fiona, Desmond, Sarah, Conor and Emmet.
