I would like to wish all the people of Mayo a peaceful Christmas and a happy New Year.
2009 has been the worst year this country has ever witnessed. It was bad for family, business, and the whole country in general.
The banks created a major problem and the public have been left with a very sour taste. I just hope that this will be dealt with properly in 2010.
I sincerely wish for a better future for everybody’s sake. The economy will lift. People will see brightness and hope for family, children, and their business colleagues. We cannot go back to the old days of emigration and young people being forced to leave home in search of work. There has been too much of this forced upon our young and talented workforce in 2009 and this must be reversed and stopped. We must rise from this recession a stronger country.
The big issue in 2010 and the most important issue will be to protect and maintain jobs and ensure more are created. Anyone who has lost their job this year must be helped get back into the workforce. We must try to support this. People who are trying to work to create jobs must be encouraged and assisted, and no obstacles can be put their way.
Every sector of society has been affected this year. The farming community has been badly hurt. I hope their prospects improve in 2010 and they get a fair price for their commodities.
For the county as a whole, when the economy eventually starts to lift, all boats will lift.
What is really needed is a general election. We badly need a Mayo taoiseach and a Mayo minister. We need an election to clear the air, bring new beginnings, new thinking, and new ideas.
If the Mayo senior team could go on and win an All-Ireland in 2010 it would give the whole county a lift. I wish them the best of luck as they endeavour to do this. Mayo is a sporting mad county and we must support all our teams across the different codes and celebrate their successes.
The hundreds and thousands of volunteers across the county who give of their time freely to sporting organisations and charitable causes must be applauded for this unselfish work. They are highly valued members of our community and in these tough times it is through their hard work and dedication that we have a focus away from the doom and gloom.
Again I would like to wish everybody a happy Christmas. I’ve had a bereavement myself this year and will not be sending out Christmas cards but I would like everyone to know I’m thinking of them this festive season and New Year. My thoughts and wishes are especially with those who have lost a loved one during the year.
