A war of words erupted at the November meeting of Mayo County Council over the decision by the Government to close the Vatican embassy. Independent councillor Frank Durcan said: “I’m ashamed to be from Castlebar and that a Castlebar man had the final say in closing it. It’s a shame.”
Cllr Richard Finn raised the issue on an item on the agenda that was to approve the travel of the Cathaoirleach and two other councillors to the United States for St Patrick’s Day next year. He told the meeting that the decision was narrow, small minded, and something that we will live to regret. He called on the “powers that be” to change their minds. Cllr Michael Kilcoyne also voiced his disappointment at the decision, saying: “We have embassies in countries that have trampled on human rights, since the foundation of the State we’ve had an embassy in the Vatican. A lot of people are very upset about this.”
Cllr Gerry Ginty stated: “This is something that has been very close to Eamon Gilmore’s heart for the past 40 years.” Fianna Fáil council whip Cllr Mícheál McNamara also called for the decision to close the embassy to be reversed.
Fine Gael councillor Johnny O’Malley hit back saying: “I can only say that when we wanted help from the Vatican, when children were being abused, the help wasn’t forthcoming. We might have been better off without the Catholic Church.”
Cllr Durcan: “The vast majority of the abuse that happened in this country wasn’t by the clergy, the vast majority of them were innocent.”
Cllr O’Malley responded saying he knew there was lots of great work done by members of the clergy, but that he knew of many people who were abused and could not do anything about it at the time. “and when they realised that they could those who abused them are long dead and gone.”
Cllr Gerry Coyle countered Cllr Frank Durcan’s claim of being ashamed saying: “I’m proud of Enda Kenny, I’m not ashamed of him.”
Cllr Jarlath Munnelly stated: “There is an Irish embassy in Rome, the Vatican is the size of about half a kilometre and 820 odd people live there.”
The members approved the travel of Cathaoirleach Cllr Austin Francis O’Malley, along with Cllr Patsy O’Brien and Cllr Margaret Adams, to the United States for a number of St Patrick’s Day events.
