New chain of office requested for municipal district in Mayo

A NEW chain of office is needed for the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District (MD) cathaoirleach.

The existing chain originates from the West Mayo MD and there's no mention of Belmullet on it.

Attention was drawn to the matter by outgoing cathaoirleach Councillor Peter Flynn before handing over the chain to his Westport area colleague Councillor Brendan Mulroy, who has taken up with the position of chair for the year ahead alongside his deputy Councillor Chris Maxwell.

The West Mayo MD was amalgamated with the Belmullet Electoral Area 12 years ago. But the chain of office states West Mayo, with no mention of the north Mayo town, Councillor Flynn told the district's annual general meeting.

It shows a lack of respect for the MDs, he said, adding that a chain is also needed for the leas-chathaoirleach, given the size of the district.

Councillor Flynn also took issue with the absence of the flags of Ireland, Mayo, Canada and Westport flying outside the civic offices in Westport during recent visits to the town by Prime Minister Mark Carney, President Catherine Connolly and Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Meanwhile over the road in Castlebar it resembled the United Nations.

On leaving office, he asked that a proper chain of office be purchased stating Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, alongside a chain for the vice-chair, as well as the necessary flags.

He also asked that where there are sod turnings and contract signings on projects they have been involved in, for example in granting part 8 planning permissions, events should be led by the cathaoirleach and local councillors, who are there to represent the people.

* Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme