Tributes to Declan Turnbull as he begins new Mayo council role

Warm and emotional tributes were paid at a meeting of the Ballina Municipal District to outgoing head of district Declan Turnbull, who is moving to a new post in Castlebar as head of integration after seven years in the role.

Cathaoirleach Councillor Jarlath Munnelly led the tributes, praising Mr. Turnbull's personality, his interest in the area and its people, and the culture he had fostered in the office.

"As elected councillors, we can be cross at times," he said. "You have the best way of working to get the best out of us."

Councillor Joe Faughnan said he was disappointed to see him go and described his departure as a big loss to the area given the volume of projects worked on together in recent years.

Councillor Marie Thérèse Duffy said Mr. Turnbull had been approachable from day one and generous with his knowledge and expertise.

"Laser sharp on important issues in the town," she said. "You've answered a thousand of my questions and done it with style and panache."

Councillor John O'Hara praised his courtesy and his willingness to return calls and follow through. "You are courteous, you always ring back and you always do," he said, adding that it was a big change to lose someone of his calibre at short notice.

Councillor Annie May Reape said the news had come as a shock and described him as a safe pair of hands. "I know I message late in the evening and you always come back with an answer," she said.

Councillor Michael Loftus said the community of north Mayo had benefited enormously from Mr. Turnbull's years of service. "This doesn't give you the right send off," he said. "When it comes to the budget, you always fought very hard for us."

Director of services Catherine McConnell said Mr. Turnbull's work had been truly unique and that he brought a cohesion to the district that left no stone unturned.

Area engineer Orla Bourke said the team had achieved so much together, often well outside of normal working hours.

Mr. Turnbull himself said he was overwhelmed by the tributes.

Reflecting on seven years that began in January 2019, he recalled all of the councillors he had worked during his time in the role and the staff who had made the work possible.

Mr. Turnbull oversaw a series of landmark moments for the north Mayo district, among them the hosting of the Connacht Fleadh, the Ballina flood relief scheme and Crossmolina’s, the Red Bull cliff diving world series in Ballycastle, and the visit of US President Joe Biden in 2023.

"If we knew what we were getting into we may not have gotten into it," he said of the Biden visit, recalling that Easter came and went with staff working 12-hour days.

Anna Connor is set to assume the role as head of the Ballina Municipal District.

* Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.