Dedication to public service honoured by county council
Excellence in politics and public service was recognised by a special civic reception held by South Tipperary County Council.
People of all party political allegiances, and none, were honoured as were the family and friends who play a supporting role and have a major part to play in the day-to-day life of politics.
Speaking at the civic reception in the chamber of the county council, Cllr Liam Ahern, in one of the last receptions of his term as council chairman, said that all of the evening's guests had either held or had a significant contribution to make to the office of chairperson or cathaoirleach of the council. All of the guests also had a long involvement in the political, community and social life of the county dating back to the 1950s.
Those being honoured were Colm O'Donnell, who was chairman of the county council in 1958; Jane Fitzgerald, whose husband was chairman in 1966 and son, Michael, is a sitting councillor and chairman in 1992 and 2002; William Byrne who was chairman in 1971; and former councillor Con Donovan, chairman in 1989 and the longest serving member of the council.
"In recognising the service of Con Donovan we are recognising 39 years service from 1960 to 1999. We are also recognising his success in the role of cathaoirleach in 1989. Con continues to be the longest serving member in the history of South Tipperary," Cllr Ahern said.
"In recognising Billy Byrne we are recognising a member who served as a member of this council from 1967 to 1979. He was cathaoirleach in 1971. Billy was also a long time member of Clonmel Corporation as it then was, and served as mayor of the town. Billy was and is, always hugely loyal to his Labour Party, which of course was founded in Clonmel and always was devoted to and proud of his home town Clonmel.
"In honouring Jane Fitzgerald in particular, we remember the dedication that is necessary among the spouses, partners and families of those involved in politics," Cllr Ahern told those gathered.
"Jane Fitzgerald has a unique status in the county's local political history. She is the widow of the late Michael Fitzgerald, a man who served as a county councillor for the Tipperary area from 1945 to 1967 and was cathaoirleach in 1966. This in itself is a major achievement. But Jane of course, is also mother of our current Cllr Michael Fitzgerald who now has served as a councillor for 31 years – since 1979 and of course is also a former cathaoirleach having held the office on two occasions.
"Finally, in recognising Colm O'Donnell we are recognising a man who loyally served the people of the Cahir area from 1950 to 1960 and proudly held the office of cathaoirleach in 1958.
"Colm was elected cathaoirleach on July 1, 1958, and was married to his late wife Gretta on the following day, July 2, 1958," Cllr Ahern said.
"Political widows and widowers have been with us for the longest time. Politics can become such an all-embracing game, that others tend to get caught up in its slipstream. They get swept along, whether they wish to be or not. We honour those today. The people in the background who do not get the limelight, but are part of the necessary support structure for those whose light shines," the chairman addressed the reception.
"It happens at every level of politics, sometimes, maybe often, unfairly. It certainly happens with councillors, and we acknowledge it, and honour the households whose quite support and suffering makes political activity possible.
Tributes were paid to those being honoured by Cllrs Sean McCarthy, Jack Crowe and Denis Landy.
Con Donovan then replied on behalf of the recipients of the civic reception.
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Weather for Clonmel
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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