The honourary freedom of Castlebar was bestowed on the town’s most loved public servant Johnny Mee last night (Thursday ).
When Johnny stood down from political life late last year to hand the reigns over to his younger and highly ambitious Labour Party colleague Harry Barrett, an era had ended. And it is only fitting now that Johnny, who is as fit and as jovial as ever, should be honoured in such a fashion by the local authority on which he served for over three decades.
Anyone who has ever met Johnny and has the privilege of calling him a friend knows that his love of Castlebar is unquestionable. “How’s the job going,” is one of his favoured phrases to the young people he meets on Castlebar’s streets. Ten minutes with Johnny and you will quickly discover that he knows all belonging to you, such is his popularity and ability to retain information.
He is like a human encyclopaedia whose memories of Castlebar in years gone by are as vivid today as they were 30 years ago.
Johnny embodied everything a public servant should. He worked tirelessly for the people of Castlebar, whether they elected him or not, with great dignity, honour and pride.
Although he is a member of the Labour Party, Johnny Mee was a Castlebar politician. He wasn’t one to be swayed by party politics but rather he assessed each debate and each situation as it arose and voted with his head on what would truly best benefit his beloved town.
Now it is fitting that Castlebar is finally honouring him and there is no-one more deserving of this honour than Johnny Mee. All too often these types of honours are bestowed on people after their death. Honouring Johnny Mee’s dedication to Mayo’s county town while he has many good years left to enjoy it speaks volumes of how highly regarded he was by the electorate, his fellow councillors through three decades of elections and the executive of Castlebar Town Council.
Johnny has seen Castlebar evolve and thrive. Times are tough at the moment, but Johnny will be there to offer advice and support to the current flock of public servants as they make decisions in an effort to steer Castlebar out of the current recession.
Johnny’s experience and level headedness is unquestionable. He has many attributes that sets him apart from the rest. He never entered political life for honour or glory and certainly not for monetary reasons. He served as town Mayor on six occasions and was an excellent ambassador for Castlebar and Mayo.
He founded St Anthony’s Special School and is a member of the Board of Management there. He was also a founding member of Western Care Association over 40 years ago. Johnny has also fought for better facilities for the youth, especially sporting facilities.
What Johnny’s duties will be are sketchy. But like Freemen of Dublin, he may have the right to graze sheep on the Mall and may be called upon to invade the city against attack. The Freeman of Dublin must possess a bow, a helmet and a sword. Johnny is believed to have a trunk of such necessities in case he was ever bestowed with such an honour. I’m not sure if the same criteria applies in Castlebar but Mary may have to get polishing just in case.
But on a serious note, there isn’t a more deserving person to receive the Honorary Freedom of Castlebar and we at the Mayo Advertiser wish Johnny and the Mee family many years of health and happiness to enjoy Johnny’s newfound fame.
Toni Bourke Editor [email protected]
