*Photograph: Eamon Ward
125 years of local democracy in Clare was acknowledged on Monday.
Minutes from the April 1899 meeting of Clare County Council were read aloud at this month’s sitting of the local authority which was attended by numerous former county councillors.
Former county councillors in attendance included Bill Slattery (FG), Christy Curtin (IND), Flan Garvey (FF), Susan Crawford (GP), Pat Breen (FG), James Breen (IND), Oliver Garry (FG), Paul Bugler (FG), Joe Arkins (FG), Tony Killeen (FF), Patrick Keane (FF), Patricia McCarthy (IND), Madeline Taylor Quinn (FG), Tony Mulqueen (FG), Michael Kelly (FF), Sonny Scanlan (FG), Enda Mulkeare (FF) and Senator Roisin Garvey (GP).
A proposal to honour the 1899 meeting was made by Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) in January and seconded by Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG). The suggestion to invite former councillors to attend was made by Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) at a meeting of the Corporate Policy Group.
“It was a privilege to be an elected member of Clare County Council, it was a badge I held for forty years and it was one I was very proud to hold,” said Christy Curtin. Former Junior Minister, Pat Breen said his five years on the Council were “a great learning curve for what lie ahead of me” during his time as TD and a Junior Minister.
Democracy’s importance was stressed by the county’s first female Mayor, Patricia McCarthy. The Shannon woman said, “Democracy is critically important and local democracy is the bravest democracy we can have”. She told sitting councillors, “It is very important for those standing to remember they are there to serve the people that elected them”. Patricia added,
“We cannot lose sight and allow sight to be lost of local government”.
Fresh from travelling to Australia, Flan Garvey informed sitting councillors that they had all been invited to visit the Clare Valley. Mayor of Clare, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) remarked that the Inagh man was “well represented in politics at the moment”.
Paul Bugler said he was very grateful to receive the invitation to attend, “we can go right back 125 years and move forward by looking backwards”.
Fine Gael’s first Mayor of the county, Madeline Taylor Quinn commented, “It is very important to recognise local government, it is the foundation of democracy in this country and the platform to enter national politics”. She continued, “All politics is local at the end of the day and it gets back to what is happening on the ground”.
Cllr Pat Burke (FG) traced his family’s history in local government and quipped, “You’ve often heard of the saying an ounce of breeding is worth a tonne of feeding”. His great grand-uncle Frank Burke served until 1920, his nephew and Pat’s grandfather Paddy Burke was elected to the Council in 1925, he served as a TD and councillor under the dual mandate until his sudden death in 1945, “his son and my uncle Charlie Burke stood for the next General Election in 1948 but was not successful, it took another 61 years for the next generation to raise their hand in 2009, I am appealing to the people of the Killaloe Municipal District to give me a chance to serve twenty years like my grandfather and grand-uncle”.
Colleagues from all ranks were welcomed by Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND). He said the role of a councillor should be all about the people they represent and not getting “too close to the officials, it is important the line which we are mandated to do is respected, the officials have plenty of back-ups in place”. He felt “local politics has been diminished by the day” and added, “you cannot beat experience”.
Mayor of the Ennis MD, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) addressing the former councillors said he would not describe any of them as old. “If any of ye are available, I need canvassers for the next few months, James you can get off that wheelchair and come out in Kilnamona”.
Ex councillors seated in the Chamber were described by Cllr Mary Howard (FG) as “trail blazers”. The Gaelic League was six years old and the GAA fifteen years old when Clare County Council first held its meeting, Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) observed.
Stronger female representation is needed in politics, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) felt, “Today is a special day and thank all those who have went before us, there was no women called on out on the list of names 125 years ago, now we have five and hopefully we will have more after the local elections”.
Clonlara’s Cllr Michael Begley (IND) pointed out that he served alongside all councillors in attendance. Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) said he was a fourth generation councillor following in the footsteps of his great grandfather, Patrick Lynch, Ernie Lynch and Barney Lynch.
“I can’t claim to be a fourth generation politician, I’m a first generation politician and the first female councillor elected for the bastion that is Fianna Fáil,” stated Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF). “Fragility of local democracy is what we are seeing worldwide, it will be a contentious election because time and change is constant so therefore the most important thing in my mind is all voices are heard,” she added.
Local Government’s importance was stressed by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG). “As a young man growing up in Clare, I was always interested in the role, leadership and services provided by the ladies and gentlemen present here today and those who are not present,” he reflected. Cllr Flynn said he great grandfather stood in the Rebel County 125 years ago against landlords and was elected.
Clare’s newest councillor, Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) commented, “I have met many of you and admired your work, it is great to see you all here today, it is our job to carry on that work”. Similar sentiments were expressed by Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF), Cllr John Crowe (FG) and Cllr Pat McMahon (FF).
In 1999 when 100 years of the Council was celebrated, Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) was the first citizen, he acknowledged the excellent efforts back then to mark the occasion. “We’re in an elitist position in Co Clare,” Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) said on the importance of local politics.
Representing the people of Clare is “a privilege,” Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) admitted. He recalled first getting elected in 1999, “it was a different Council back then and the power sharing has taken the sting out of it, my father Joe served for thirty three years on the Council”. He added, “They’d have got a few pound for attending the meeting in the Courthouse but they’d have the money spent in the Copper Jug before they got home”.
The late Martin Lafferty was remembered by Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) who said his fellow parishioner was a great mentor. He stated, “You’ve no hope for the future if you don’t know where you’ve come from and what your values are”. On the work of elected representatives, he said, “We’re fighting the good fight with all the challenges on social media and the threat to the good world”.
Nearing the end of his first-term as a councillor, Cllr Shane Talty (FF) said having the post has been an honour. “It is a relief to us in North Clare that today has taken Bill Slattery off the canvass for a few hours,” he quipped.
Past members of the Council should be proud of what they have achived, Cllr Cooney stated. “Ye can be very proud of what ye have achieved and it is simply fantastic to be here on the 125th anniversary of Clare County Council”.
