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Mary Coote Ryan named last mayor of Ennis


FINE Gael Councillor Mary Coote Ryan has been elected the last mayor of Ennis before the abolition of Ennis Town Council next year. Councillor Coote Ryan was elected on Tuesday evening, after fellow Fine Gael Councillor Mary Howard withdrew her name from the race.
Claims were made at the meeting by Fine Gael’s Councillor Johnny Flynn that the outcome of the mayoral election was a foregone conclusion. However, this was rejected, with Councillor Tommy Brennan insisting there was never a power-sharing agreement made by the town council.
Councillor Howard, who was proposed by Councillor Flynn and seconded by Councillor Paul O’Shea, withdrew her nomination stating, “The last thing I want is any more division in the chamber”. She went on, “The best honour you can have is to serve the town as mayor and the last thing I want is any trouble”.
The election for the role of Deputy Mayor also saw Councillor Howard nominated, with Councillor Frankie Neylon her opponent. Councillor Neylon won the vote, with Councillor Coote Ryan voting outside her party for the independent councillor.
Commenting on her vote, Councillor Coote Ryan stated, “I am proposing Councillor Neylon because he proposed me. Councillor Mary Howard has done great things but this is not a political chamber and we don’t bring party politics into the chamber.”
Speaking after her election, Councillor Coote Ryan acknowledged those who proposed and seconded her and paid tribute to outgoing mayor, Councillor Peter Considine stating, “I have big shoes to fill”.
She went on, “I feel terribly honoured and terribly proud, I hope I do my family proud and the town of Ennis. I am an old townie in every way and I absolutely adore my town. To me, Ennis is very precious and I take great joy and pleasure in seeing the place looking good.”
Councillor Coote Ryan was congratulated by her fellow councillors and officials within the council. Among them, Councillor Howard stated, “I wish you the best of luck. This year is a milestone in the history of Ennis and I will help you in any way I can.”
County manager Tom Coughlan commented, “I have no doubt you will be an excellent mayor and an excellent representative”.
He added that he has seen the positive difference that town councils can make, adding “whatever the future is I will do my best to ensure the town goes from strength to strength”.
This is Councillor Coote Ryan’s fourth time as the town’s first citizen, having served as chair of the town council twice and also Mayor of Ennis from 2004 to 2005. Co-opted to the council in 1990, following the passing of her late brother Paddy, she has continued to be successful in local elections.
While she said she is delighted to be serving the town as mayor again, there is also a poignancy to her year, with the upcoming abolition of the local authority.
“It is a very historic year and I feel really very honoured at being elected mayor, particularly for this year because I think it is an important year. It’s a poignant year. I’m saddened about that. The night Ennis celebrated the 400th year of the charter ,Brian Ó Dalaigh spoke of the previous people who looked after our town and during his speech I felt, isn’t it very sad that all the hard work that those people that started our town, to think that all that’s going now.
“I think it’s going to be a very important year and I think it’s a year we can’t sit back really. This is the year that we must make decisions for the good of our town and hopefully, when the new municipal authority comes in, they will carry on with that. We just can’t say look, the council will be gone in a year. We can’t look at it that way. We really have to work hard this year. I know things aren’t good economically at the moment but it won’t always be like that and I think now is the time that we should be preparing for the future and the day when things are better,” she said.
Outgoing mayor Councillor Peter Considine recalled at the meeting some of the highlights of the past 12 months, describing it as a “busy year”. He also used the opportunity to call on Fine Gael councillors throughout the country to “put their collective muscle together” in a bid to get Minister Phil Hogan to reassess the decision to abolish town councils. He urged business people to voice their opposition, saying the council’s replacement with a municipal authority may result in potential rate hikes.
He also expressed his fears for the future that  “nothing will happen without the drive of a local authority. Every town manager has been fully supportive of our town council on numerous projects and a new municipal district authority, I don’t think, will have the same focus.”

 

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