Minutes 2019

Minutes of May Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council held on Thursday, 2nd May, 2019 at 10.00 a.m. in The Council Chamber, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo.


COUNCILLORS PRESENT:

  • Councillor Baker,
  • Councillor Bree,
  • Councillor Casserly,
  • Councillor Clarke,
  • Councillor Henry,
  • Councillor Keaney,
  • Councillor Kilgannon,
  • Councillor Lundy,
  • Councillor MacManus,
  • Councillor Maguire,
  • Councillor Mulvey,
  • Councillor O’Grady,
  • Councillor Queenan,
  • Councillor Taylor.

 

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Mr. Ciarán Hayes, Chief Executive
  • Mr. Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services
  • Ms. Dorothy Clarke, Director of Services
  • Ms. Patricia Guckian, Financial Accountant
  • Mr. Joe Murphy, Senior Executive Officer
  • Mr. Kevin Colreavy, Meetings Administrator
  • Ms. Jo-Anne McGonigle, Assistant Staff Officer

 

CATHAOIRLEACH:

Cathaoirleach, Councillor Martin Baker, presided. 

 

APOLOGIES:

Apologies were received from Councillor Healy, Councillor MacSharry & Councillor O’Boyle.

1.  ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING AS A MARK OF RESPECT TO THE LATE COUNCILLOR MARGARET GORMLEY:

Proposed by Councillor D. Bree
Seconded by Councillor M. Clarke

AND AGREED

“That the Ordinary Meeting of Sligo County Council be adjourned until Wednesday, 8th May, 2019 as a mark of respect to the late Councillor Margaret Gormley”.

Councillor Bree extended his sympathies to the family, colleagues and friends of the late Councillor Gormley.  He said it was difficult to accept the fact that she was not sitting alongside him at the meeting or that her voice would not be heard again.  The shock had been palpable in County Hall when the news had been received of her untimely death.  Their connection went back to October 1980 when she had been co-opted following the death of her father, Willie.

In formally seconding the motion, Councillor Clarke also paid tribute to Councillor Gormley who he regarded as an excellent public representative who understood rural people’s issues and politics, working at the highest tempo to deliver for south and, indeed, all of County Sligo. 

Members recounted their own memories of Councillor Gormley and many tributes were paid on how supportive a colleague she had been, her work rate, imprint on many projects in south Sligo and her tenacity to bring  projects to fruition.  Those qualities had been clearly delivered by Councillor Bree in his Graveside oration and again at the meeting and this was warmly welcomed by the Members.

Members highlighted Councillor Gormley’s strong links with G.A.A. from local to county level and her sincere pride with the involvement of her nieces and nephews.  Members said her work over many years was an inspiration to new Councillors, and recalled her tireless efforts for her local community and as a member of various boards and committees. Members noted that Councillor Gormley was still working on behalf of her constituents on the evening she passed away.

The Cathaoirleach added his own thoughts and memories of his time working with her since he was elected in 2004 and said he regarded it as a privilege to work with someone of Councillor Gormley’s calibre.  The honour of having been elected as Cathaoirleach had been one of the highlights of her years as a Councillor and the role of Councillor Bree and former Councillor Aidan Colleary in ensuring the honour was bestowed on her was noted.  The void caused by her absence was a sad one.

The Chief Executive stated that it was poignant for him to have to join with the Members, on his own behalf and on behalf of the Staff, in offering his condolences to the Gormley family.  Councillor Gormley had been well regarded by the staff and her presence would be missed around the corridors, she was very proud of her community and her role in serving it.

In the lifetime of the current Council, two Members had passed away and the Chief Executive and Members also remembered the late Councillor Seamie O’Boyle.

 

2.  ADJOURNED ORDINARY MEETING – 8TH MAY, 2019:

The Chief Executive advised the meeting that, due to a long standing study visit in the U.K. in respect of the proposed Surf Centre of Excellence in Strandhill, he had a difficulty with the revised date being proposed.  He would consider what he could do to facilitate attending the adjourned Ordinary Meeting, if at all possible. 

Members noted the difficulty outlined but agreed to adjourn the Meeting until the 8th May.

 

END OF MEETING:

The business of the meeting concluded at 10.45 a.m.


Meeting Date 02/05/2019