As Mayor of Letterkenny, McGarvey - at this stage aged 89 - returned to Germany for the first time since 1960, visiting the Thuringian twin town of Rudolstadt and having a vine there dedicated to him and his wife Marjorie and a plaque erected at a vineyard.
(meta data) TITLE: Donegal Councillor Ian McGarvey immortalised in wine - Donegal News +353 (0)74912 1014 Astrid von Killish-Horn, Katja Trog and Ingo Herlitze presenting Councillor Ian McGarvey with his own vine. # Donegal Councillor Ian McGarvey immortalised in wine Posted: 4:06 pm March 29, 2019 A plaque has been erected in a German vineyard to Mayor of Letterkenny and lifelong teetotaller Ian McGarvey and his wife Marjorie. Councillor McGarvey, who at 89 is Ireland's oldest elected representative, was part of a delegation that travelled to Letterkenny's twin town Rudolstadt for St Patrick's Day. It was his first time in Germany since 1960 when he spent a year working there. As part of the trip, Mr McGarvey was invited to Wienhof Rudolstadt, a local vineyard established in 2010. There a vine was officially dedicated to him and his wife Marjorie. Unveiling the plaque that is now attached to Mr McGarvey's vine, Astrid Von Killisch-Horn explained, "The vineyard began back in 2010 at which point it was just overgrown wasteland. A local woman had the idea of restoring it as a vineyard because it is warm here and a very good place for wine. She got others involved and we all started cutting back the trees and knocking down walls." Similar to projects that have been undertaken in Letterkenny, the local probation service was invited to get involved. They began directing those on community service to the vineyard. "It is the most beautiful workplace in all of Rudolstadt," said Astrid. The plaque dedicated to Ian McGarvey and his wife Marjorie proudly on display in Rudolstadt. The vineyard is financed by companies who sponsor each of the vines. Around 50 local businesses have their names exhibited on slate plaques. Right there alongside them hangs the names of Ian and Marjorie McGarvey. "We are very happy to be dedicating this vine to Mr McGarvey and his wife Marjorie," Astrid Von Killisch-Horn added. Posted: 4:06 pm March 29, 2019 Sign up to our newsletter #### Donegal News Every Friday ##### BUY NOW #### Donegal News Every Monday ##### BUY NOW Most Viewed Latest News ###### Harvey's Point sold as Gysling family take step back ###### Wikipedia takes the 'Mount' out of Mount Errigal ###### SIPO find against Cllr John O'Donnell ###### The school teacher drawn to Donegal's faces and places ###### Bernie Moran to run for Fine Gael in Letterkenny ###### Take over of estates needs to happen quicker – McGlynn ###### Donegal Councillor Ian McGarvey immortalised in wine ###### The school teacher drawn to Donegal's faces and places ###### Can you help sick puppy Odhrán? ###### Save lives by walking from Darkness Into Light
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Ian McGarvey
Abstract.
McGarvey spent a year working in Germany in 1960. He played association football for Swilly Rovers and captained them to the FAI Junior Cup in 1962. He has been a teetotaller (abstaining from alcohol) throughout his life. 
 Aged 82, McGarvey became Ireland's oldest Mayor and Donegal County Council's first Independent Mayor in June 2013, succeeding Frank McBrearty, Jnr. Aged 85, he became Ireland's oldest ever general election candidate at the 2016 election. Having earlier been Mayor of County Donegal, McGarvey became Mayor of Letterkenny in June 2018 - he succeeded either Gerry McMonagle of Sinn Féin "or" Jimmy Kavanagh of Fine Gael in that role. McGarvey was at this time approaching his 88th birthday and broke his own mayoral record set five years earlier.