At a recent meeting of Castlebar Fianna Fail Cumann, held at the Welcome Inn Hotel, it was unanimously agreed that a vote of thanks and appreciation be extended to former EU commissioner Padraig Flynn for his work on behalf of Castlebar and County Mayo during his years of public service.
Members spoke highly of the huge investment in key infrastructural projects which Commissioner Flynn had secured for Mayo during his term as minister for the environment.
Cumann chairman Patrick McDonnell said that Mr Flynn had represented Mayo effectively and vigorously during his years in government, and had ensured that his native county was given its fair share of Government investment during that time.
Said Mr McDonnell: “Padraig Flynn was the man who secured Knock Airport for the people of Connacht against sustained political opposition. He signed off on the major regional water schemes and sewerage projects which were so badly needed. He spearheaded new libraries, new fire stations, new Garda stations, and he secured the approval and the funding for Aras an Chondae. And it was Mr Flynn who built the N5 to Castlebar, and provided the county town with the ring road and inner relief routes which have made Castlebar the shopping capital of the west.”
Mayo County Councillor Blackie Gavin said that Commissioner Flynn had left a record of achievement for Mayo which will never be equalled by any public representative, of any political persuasion, in the future.
“The Flynn record speaks for itself,” he said. “This county benefited from a whole range of major projects for which he was responsible. All of the infrastuctural advantages we enjoy in Mayo today were a direct result of him representing his county with such drive and determination over his years in government.”
The meeting expressed its regret at Mr Flynn's resignation from the Fianna Fail party, several members noting that his family had been founding members of the Castlebar cumann.
