Carlow’s longest serving public representative looks unlikely to reverse his decision to retire ahead of next year’s local election, despite some gentle prodding from another council mainstay.
Fine Gael councillor Micheal Deering announced earlier this year that he would not stand at the next local elections after more than 40 years on the county council.
But at a recent council meeting Cllr Deering’s colleaugue, Labour councillor Jim Townsend asked whether he would reconsider the decision.
“Recently the penny has dropped that not all over 70s are fools and they have a role to play in running the country,” Cllr Townsend said, in reference to the recent medical cards debacle.
“He has the experience that some younger people don’t.”
Although flattered by his colleagues appeal, Cllr Deering said he was happy with the service he had given to his county and was ready to retire.
“I appreciate Cllr Townsend’s sentiments but at the same time I think I have given a reasonable service to everyone over the past 42 years,” he said.
“I remember well five years ago a very senior man in the council persuaded me to go forward. That man was non other than Niall Bradley, who went on to work with Kildare County Council.
“He said, ‘you have what money won’t buy, you have experience’. He has retired since and I too am entitled to retire.”
Cllr Deering has represented Rathvilly for 42 years on the county council, during which time he never lost an election.
