Independent councillor Frank Durcan got into a heated debate with Castlebar Mayor Cllr Ger Deere at the monthly meeting of Castlebar Town Council last week.
The meeting was discussing matters arising from the minutes of the previous months meeting. Cllr Durcan told the meeting, “I’m very angry that in the minutes of the meeting it looks like I am against the works on Main Street and the bridge at Lough Lannagh. I’m not against the projects at all, the only objection I have is the cost of the bridge at Lough Lannagh. There is about €1 million being spent on the bridge, when we could get one for €150,000, it’s a nine foot bridge we don’t need a big bridge there.” Castlebar Mayor Ger Deere and the town manager Seamus Granahan agreed that the minutes would be changed to reflect Cllr Durcan’s concerns. However when Mayor Deere tried to move on with the proceedings, Cllr Durcan stood up and responded by saying “ I’ll have my say, it’s rate payers money you are squandering here.” Mayor Deere tried to get the meeting moving on to the next item, but Cllr Durcan kept responding saying, “I want it to be recorded properly what I have said, because I was recorded wrong before.” Mayor Deere assured Cllr Durcan that his objections would be recorded and the previous months minutes amended as he requested.
Ruane nominated to fill Gnó Mhaigh Eo seat
Sinn Féin councillor Therese Ruane was nominated to fill the second seat that Castlebar Town Council hold on the Gnó Mhaigh Eo board for the town. Cllr Ruane raised the issue under the matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting which she was not able to attend. She told the meeting that it was very important that the seat be filled as soon as possible by the council. With the meetings of Gnó Mhaigh Eo taking place in Irish the members agreed that it was imperative that whoever was appointed should be capable of taking a full part in the meeting. Cllr Noreen Heston told the meeting that she thought that someone from the council executive should be appointed or a business person be appointed. However, it was decided by the members that Cllr Ruane would be the right person to appoint and she was proposed by Mayor Deere and seconded by Cllr Michael Kilcoyne.
