Meeting on proposed abolition of town council

A local mayor has called a public meeting on the proposed abolition of a town council in West Cork.

Clonakilty is one of 82 town councils to be dissolved in Environment Minister Phil Hogan’s local government reform.

The town’s mayor, Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, warned the loss of the council would have a “hugely negative” effect on both Clonakilty and its people.

“There has been a lot of concern expressed in the community over the last seven or eight months since the announcement.

“I believe many people do not fully appreciate what will be lost,” he said.

Mr O Súilleabháin said that while he was the first to acknowledge that the local town council didn’t always “do everything right”, and could “do things better” sometimes, he believed it was a model that similar councils should aspire to.

“The town council in recent decades has led Clonakilty town to where it is today, a great place to live, work in, and visit; a caring community; a town that stands out on the national map; a place of high standards and winner of awards.”

He said the abolition of the council would stymie future development.

* The meeting will take place next Tuesday, Jun 4, at 8.30pm in O’Donovan’s Hotel.