Demise of urban councils in Mayo is regrettable

By Tom Gillespie

THE Local Government Reform Act 2014 was an Act of the Oireachtas providing for a major restructuring of local government in the Republic of Ireland, with effect from the 2014 local elections.

This sadly saw the abolition of Urban District Councils and the introduction of municipal authorities.

I say sadly because the axing of the town councils has taken a focus off towns like Ballina, Castlebar and Westport and created much larger geographical areas under the control of the municipal bodied.

The Connaught Telegraph can claim the prestigious accolade of having its then owner and editor, James Daly, being the first chairman/mayor to be elected in 1900. He served as chairman again for the period 1903-04.

Eight-five other councillors, many of them serving several terms, were subsequently elected as mayor, the last being Councillor Noreen Heston, Fine Gael (FG) 12013-14.

Local author and historian Noel Campbell, who was a member of Castlebar Town Council from 2004 to 2009, in his book ‘A History of Castlebar - Municipal Government 1613-2014’, pointed out that Councillor A.C. Larminie resigned as chairman in 1928 and said some reports have Dr. Alfred J. Faulkner being co-opted in his place. He also cites that no chairman was formally elected in 1929-30. However, Martin J. Reidy acted as chairman at the majority of meetings held.

In April 2002 the title of chairman or cathaoirleach was formally changed to Mayor when Pat King, Fianna Fáil (FF), wore the mayoral chain.

I would have started covering meetings of Castlebar Urban Council in 1970 when the late Judge John Garavan (FG) was chairman. As in many cases, his son, Judge Eoin Garavan (FG), held the chair in 1996-97.

The other father-and-son groupings were John Henaghan, Independent (Ind.), who was chairman in 1975-75 and 1980-81, and his son the late Brendan (FG), 2006-07 and 2012-13. Jude Ainsworth (FF) was chairman in 1976-77 and 1986-87 and his son Paul Ainsworth (FF) in 1995-96.

My colleague Johnny Mee, Labour, had a very distinguished career in local politics and served as chairman for a record six times - 1977-78, 1981-82,1989-90, 1998-99, 2000-01 and 2004-05.

Councillor Frank Durcan (FG and later Ind.) held the chair on three occasions in 1975-76, 1979-80 and 1983-83, as did Blackie Gavin (FF) in 1997-98, 1999-2000 and 2005-06, while Councillor Paddy McGuinness (Ind.) occupied the chair in 1985-85 and 1993-95; Councillor Martin Hopkins (FG) in 1978-79 and 1983-84; Liam Coady (FG) 1987-88 and 1994-95; Councillor Eugene McCormack (FG) 2007-08 and 2011-12 and Councillor Michael Kilcoyne (Ind.) 2002-03 and 2009-10.

In my time of reporting on the proceedings of the Castlebar council other chairmen were: Dick Morrin (FF) 1971-72, Michael Neary (Lab) 1972-73, Willie Cresham (FF) 1973-74, John Hamrock (Ind.) 1978, Christy Tynan (FG) 1984-85, George O’Malley (FF) 1988-89, Eamon Joyce (FF) 1990-91, Eanya Egan (Ind.) 1991-92, Sean Bourke (FF) 1992-93, Aidan Crowley (FF) 2003-04, Kevin Guthrie (FG) 2008-09 and Ger Deere (FG) 2019-11.

When I started covering the council meetings they were held in the chamber of the district court in Castlebar Courthouse. Back then it was permitted to smoke in the chamber and as well as raised voices, clouds of smoke also rose amid the heated debates.

Frank Durcan had the privilege of being chairman when the council moved from the courthouse to Marsh House in September 1979, which was to be their headquarters until the abolition of the council.

Again, as in the cigarette smoking in the chamber, no thought was put into the wheelchair accessibility to the new first storey meeting room. However, that was before political correctness became popular.

The dedication of all the councillors, their contributions and their foresight has seen Castlebar develop into one of the best towns in the west of Ireland.

In the background were the many officials who guided and advised the councillors.

During my tenure the following town clerks and acting town clerks were in office: John Quinlivan (November 1969 to September 1973), Michael Fahey, acting (September 1973 to September 1974), Eddie Breen (September 1974 to September 1977), Ger Lavelle, acting (September 1977 to March 1978), John Loftus (March 1978 to March 1980), Sean Smyth, acting (March 1980 to January 1981), Aiden Walsh (January 1981 to June 1983), Gerry Costello, acting (July 1983 to December 1983), Sean Smyth, acting (January 1984 to June 1984), and John Condon (June 1984 to August 2001).

The chain of office worn by the chairmen was sponsored by AIB many years ago.

For many years my grandfather Thomas H. Gillespie was a member of the Castlebar branch of Fine Gael and was elected a member of Castlebar Urban District Council.

He was recognised as being ‘perhaps the most energetic of all the organisers in driving the bacon factory plan for Castlebar’.

He visited the various districts in West Mayo where he secured important enthusiastic support from farmers who promised to feed the supply of animals the factory needed.

Many, particularly councillors, will lament the demise of Urban District Councils as since their abolition, sadly, the focus had been taken off the onward development of individual towns and centred on large municipal areas.