New Cathaoirleach of Westport Town Council Councillor Christy Hyland said that he “will walk the walk, rather than talk the talk” during his time in the chair.
The Fine Gael councillor was elected at the AGM of the town council on Wednesday evening after he was proposed by Cllr Michael McLaughlin and seconded by Cllr Myles Staunton. Cllr Ollie Gannon was elected as the Leas Cathaoirleach.
Cllr McLaughlin said that Cllr Hyland “shoots from the hip, not always using a pistol, but using a bazooka or a machine gun”, but he is hardworking and passionate about issues. Cllr Brendan Mulroy congratulated him on this “tremendous achievement”. Cllr Staunton said that Cllr Hyland has “energy in abundance”, and Cllr Keane said that he would have his support. Cllr Margaret Adams told Cllr Hyland that he would have a different outlook on his role as councillor after he finished his term in the chair. Cllr Gannon told Cllr Hyland to enjoy his time as Cathaoirleach and let the officials, “who get paid to do all the worrying”, do the worrying.
Outgoing cathaoirleach Tereasa McGuire said that this is the “highest honour we can obtain” and that Cllr Hyland’s year will be an “incredible learning curve”. Director of services Joe Beirne said that the officials look forward to working with him.
Cllr Hyland’s family, who were present in the chamber, were also wished well.
“It is a great honour, and an honour I know not to be taken lightly,” the new Cathaoirleach said. Cllr Hyland said that tourism will hopefully help keep the town out of recession and “onwards and upwards we will go.”
The Fine Gael councillor said that the role of town councils is “the most fundamental tier of democracy”, and that the day we remove town councils “will be the rock on which we will perish”.
He ended his speech by saying that during his year he will “walk the walk, rather than talk the talk.”
Outgoing cathaoirleach Tereasa McGuire hoped that during her time as cathaoirleach she remained true to the endeavours of “grace, dignity and equal representation”. Cllr McGuire said that her year “was the best of times and the worst of times”; the good times being a new Minister from the town and welcoming “a real Mayo Taoiseach”; the worst of times being the deaths of Mary O’Grady and “Westport’s finest statesman”, Myles Staunton.
All councillors congratulated Cllr McGuire on her term in office, where she demonstrated fairness, great articulation — in both English and Irish — and was a wonderful ambassador for the town.
