Warm tributes paid to retiring councillors

TRIBUTES have been paid to five councillors who are stepping down from frontline politics at next week’s local election.

There’s guaranteed to be at least five new faces when the local authority meets after the election, with the departure of Cllr Kevin Sheahan after 39 years of service, alongside his Fianna Fail colleague, Cllr James Collins.

On top of this, Independent councillor Emmett O’Brien is stepping down after a decade in politics.

And in the Fine Gael enclosure, both Mayor Gerald Mitchell and Cllr John Egan have decided to call it a day.

At the last metropolitan district meeting of this council term, veteran Fianna Fail councillor Kieran O’Hanlon paid tribute to Cllr Collins.

He said: “James has served with distinction as mayor. He worked hard for his community, and always represented the city very well. When it came to budget-time, he came into his own as he had a greater understanding of budgets and accountancy than many of us on the council had. He was able to make very worthwhile contributions.”

At the final full council meeting of the term this Monday, best wishes were extended to Cllr O’Brien and Cllr Sheahan, who in April enjoyed a reception to mark his decades in local politics.

Cllr Adam Teskey, Fine Gael, wished his “good friend and colleague” Cllr Sheahan the best of luck.

“This is his last day in the chamber. His career has spanned a 39 year period serving Limerick County Council and now Limerick City and County Council. Kevin has been a great friend of mine.”

Mayor Mitchell added: “He has served the people very well over many years. It takes a great man to keep getting elected. Obviously he is very positive and I wish him well. You’ve done the country and county of Limerick some service.”

He also extended his tributes to Cllr Egan and Cllr Collins for their “fantastic contributions”.

Last week, at what was the final meeting of the current Cappamore Kilmallock before the election, members paid tribute to Mayor Mitchell - the last first citizen to be elected from the council’s own number - and Cllr Egan.

Cllr Mike Donegan, cathaoirleach of the Cappamore-Kilmallock municipal district, said Mayor Mitchell and Cllr Egan were a pleasure to work with and fellow councillors echoed the sentiments, saying they did the county and district proud.

Mayor Mitchell said the district should be proud of all they achieved in the last five years, while Cllr Egan said the Cappamore Kilmallock district is a model for all that can be achieved at local level.

Council officials said both councillors were always very easy to deal with and were always very professional. These were sentiments repaid by the mayor.

Polling day is Friday, June 7.