The people of Carnacon paid special tribute to retiring Councillors Paddy McGuinness and Johnny Mee at the Castlebar electoral area meeting held in the village last Friday night. The area meeting was moved out of the county town to pay tribute to the Carnacon ladies’ GAA team who captured their third All-Ireland senior football last year. Walter Hughes from the Carnacon Community Council welcomed the members to the village saying: “It’s a rare and unique achievement for a rural area to see All-Ireland titles come our way. We are delighted to have such an occasion to recognise the achievements and the honour the girls brought to the area.”
However it was not only the All-Ireland champions from the village who were honoured, as the people of Carnacon honoured both Labour Party Councillor Johnny Mee and Fine Gael Councillor Paddy McGuinness, who are both retiring from politics at the end of their term, by presenting them with a crystal plaque to commemorate their work for the community as councillors. Cllr Mee told the meeting: “I’m greatly honoured by this, I know this area very well, I can remember in 1948 working here rounding up men to work on the bog in Kilboyne. This lovely gesture really has caught me off guard, I’m very grateful and appreciative of it.”
Cllr McGuinness was also very humbled to received the honour, telling the meeting: “This is a very nice surprise, it really has caught me off guard. It’s lovely to share the acclaim with someone like Johnny and I hope I’m not stealing your limelight (only a day previously Mee was honoured as the first ever Freeman of Castlebar ).”
The community council also had a presentation for Cllr Sean Bourke, who is also retiring, which he will be presented with later as he was unable to attend the meeting, due to other commitments.
