Cork County Council marks 125th anniversary of first meeting

Event tinged with sadness due to death of a ‘father’ of the chamber

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Frank O'Flynn, and Cork County Council chief executive Valerie O’Sullivan raising the commemorative 125th anniversary flag outside Cork County Hall. Picture: Brian Lougheed

Celebration and nostalgia marked the 125th anniversary of the first meeting of Cork County Council, but it was tinged with sadness due to the death of one of the ‘fathers’ of the chamber.

Councillors convened on Monday to commemorate the founding of the local authority, and the minutes book from its first meeting in 1899 was on display in the debating chamber.

They were given a video presentation on the council’s history by historian Tomas Mac Conmara.

Meanwhile, hundreds attended part of the commemoration event in the County Hall foyer, including several former councillors and members of staff.

Among them were Finance Minister Michael McGrath, a county councillor from 2004 to 2007, and former minister Simon Coveney, a councillor from 1999 to 2001, who both made speeches at the ceremony.

Council chief executive Valerie O’Sullivan said local government is at the heart of people’s lives and it drives her and her staff to improve the quality of life for all those in the county "and make a difference". 

She said if those who follow are "half as dedicated" as the team she has, "then the future will be in safe hands". 

Mayor of County Cork, Fianna Fáil councillor Frank O’Flynn, said the council had reached a significant milestone in its history and during the past 125 years “has served as a bedrock for the prosperity of our county".

"We'll work to build a more sustainable and prosperous county for generations to come," he said.

Tributes

However, before the commemoration started, councillors paid tribute to Fine Gael councillor Gerard Murphy who was buried in his native Newmarket on Friday.

Mr O’Flynn said Mr Murphy had served his community tirelessly for 32 years as a councillor and TD and he will be sorely missed.

“He was like a father figure to us and was the voice of reason. I never heard him say a bad word about anybody and nobody had a bad word to say about him,” said Fine Gael councillor Susan McCarthy.

Fianna Fail councillor Gillian Coughlan said Mr Murphy had a serious knowledge of the Constitution, history, and European law.