IT HAPPENED AND I WAS ALMOST SPEECHLESS!
Tuesday 12th June 2012
Another Council AGM, my 18th since I was elected to Clonakilty Town Council on 11th June 1994. Today marked 18 years and a day being a Councillor! Once again, since almost every year since 1999, (when I topped the poll in that Junes Local Elections, with an historic high first preference vote in the 100 year history of the council), I was putting my name forward for the position of Méara Chloch na gCoillte. At last year's also ran election, I made it known that I would be standing again in 2012 Mayoral contest. As usual, I had canvassed my eight fellow councillors (they being the only people who could elect anyone as Mayor), for their support some weeks in advance. I had received pledges of support, but not enough, but going on previous experiences over the years, was cautious about even some of the certainties I had got!
The Mayoral Election has been an annual battle every year, and has varied with me having to propose and second myself on occasions and more recently getting others to propose and second - but always loosing out.
Since 1999, I was determined, however hopelessly, to contest the Mayoral Election, because I believe in democracy, as espoused by the people in the council elections, and also because I believe that my party, Sinn Féin, of which I have been a member since 1989 was as entitled to the hold the Mayoral position as much as the others in the chamber or the Independents.
As usual, I put on my suit, and headed to the 6.30pm meeting, knowing that Cllr. Humphrey Deegan, (FG) was also going to be contesting the Mayoral Election. Justifiable tributes were paid to the outgoing Mayor, Cllr. John Loughnan, on his very busy and pro-active year representing the town and the council.
The nominations were then called for the position of Mayor of Clonakilty for 2012 - 2013.
I was proposed by Labour's Cllr. Aidan Pendlebury, and seconded by Cllr. Anne Cullinane of Fianna Fáil.
Cllr. Deegan was proposed by his party colleague Cllr. Kevin O' Regan, and seconded by the outgoing Fianna Fáil Mayor, Cllr. John Loughnan.
With no other nominations, an election had to take place, whereby each of the nine councillors indicated verbally which of the two candidates they wished to support. It was a tense few minutes because even though I had received pledges in advance, and i knew some had pledged support to Cllr. Deegan, there were others whom I was unaware of how they intended to vote going into the meeting.
In the end, I got the Mayoral position by 5 votes to 4 - the narrowest of margins.
When the voting was concluded, I was in disbelief, as I was declared elected as Méara Cloch na gCoillte for the coming year.
Walking the 10 steps to accept the Mayoral Robes and Chain of Office from the outgoing Mayor, was a bit of a daze. Luckily, I had got my hair done for the photos!
It was a great feeling of pride that I accepted the trimmings of office. Ironically, having waited for years, but not expecting success again in 2012, I had no speech prepared! So I ad-libbed from memory as much as I could from the speeches I had prepared in my mind in the past!
From memory, I referred to the need for the Town Council to be more pro-active in promoting the many positive things it does for and on behalf of the people of the town, and that as Mayor, I intended to be vocal and very public about this and would set up a "Mayor's Blog" as one way to keep people informed of the activities of the Mayor for the coming year. (So here it is at last!).
The threat by central government to further dilute or perhaps even abolish the Town Council structure is something that we have to resist.
I also pledged to try to make the position of Mayor, and the Town Council as a body, more relevant to every person in Clonakilty, and to raise it's profile among the population. To that end I promised during the year to call officially to the schools, hospitals, Clonakilty Lodge, and other places where Clonakilty people assemble to work, study or live. I wanted to be a Mayor for all the people of Clonakiklty.
Gheall mé freisin go raibh sé ar intinn agam níos mó Gaeilge a úsáid chun í a chur chun cinn i meac na daoine.
All my colleagues congratulated me very sincerely, and for a while I thought I was at my own funeral, given all the kind words showered on me!
My first official function was to oversee the election of the Deputy Mayor position and Cllr. Aidan Pendlebury was re-elected defeating Cllr. Phil O' Regan in a vote.
Without trying to exaggerate what happened, I think the 12th June 2012 was a very positive occasion for Clonakilty and it's people. I think when the word got out, there was a collective sigh of relief in the community that the conflict and negativity that characterised Council AGM's for years was now over. In the days and weeks that followed, I think this was expressed to me dozens of times, including by many people who would oppose me politically, and never voted for me, but always wanted to see fair play. As one man in Fine Gael said to me, "The council has at last grown up, and the wishes of the people were reflected by your election".
I think that man was right, and many agree with him.
The line has now been drawn in the sand, and hopefully contentious Mayoral Elections are a thing of the past. For the first time since 1925, a Sinn Féin elected Councillor has become Mayor of Clonakilty.
It's now up to me to prove that the confidence and the honour bestowed on my by the council, will be used to the maximum effect to represent our great town, and represent every single person in it over the coming 12 months.
It's a position and an honour I will take seriously each day and night, and hope at the end of it, people will be happy with my tenure as Méara Chloch na gCoillte.
Go raibh maith agat to those Councillors who supported me on the night. I know it was a very difficult decision for some of them politically, but they made the decision they did for the town and the people.
CRÍOCH
