Tributes to Jim’s 40 years at the Corr of local politics

Glowing tributes were paid last night to the only public representative to have served 40 consecutive years in Cork’s City Hall.

Cllr Jim Corr (FG) is also the only modern-day councillor to have served as Lord Mayor twice, in 1979 and 1996.

He was co-opted onto the then Cork Corporation in May 1973 to replace Peter Barry, who had become a government minister. After that he successfully fought local elections in 1979, 1985, 1991, 1999, 2004 and 2009, but wasn’t as fortunate when he sought a Dáil seat in 1989 and 1992.

Cllr Corr worked as a teacher and later as school principal in South Presentation. He also managed to write a geography book, Fundamental Geography, which was published in 1972 by Gill & Macmillan.

“Jim sought election not for personal gain but so as to enable him to contribute and make a difference to the people of Cork and the South East Ward. In those 40 years Jim has been an exemplary public representative and is a role model for all of us on Cork City Council,” said Lord Mayor John Buttimer.

“He has shown extraordinary commitment, dedication, diligence, preparation, thoroughness, insightfulness and compassion over the course of his 40 years on Cork City Council.”

He also paid tribute to Cllr Corr’s wife, Lillian, and family for the support they had given the public representative. “It is not possible to be successful in any sphere of life for 40 years without the support of family and good friends, which Jim has in abundance.”

Cllr Corr said he was honoured to be acknowledged by his fellow councillors and to have served the city for so long. “We have changed from a city dependent on smoke stack industries such as Sunbeam, Dunlops, Fords, etc, to hi-tech industries with significant foreign investment.”

He expressed concern about the decline in numbers getting involved in politics. “There is also a dangerous lack of hope in society [at the moment] and this is something we have to get to grips with.”

Tributes to Cllr Corr came from the highest echelons of Irish politics, with President Michael D Higgins sending a framed letter of congratulations.