Cork people must fight to keep their city council

Having fought a long, but unsuccessful battle to save Killarney Town Council from Phil Hogan’s ruthless axe, I am watching with considerable interest the struggle that is beginning in Cork. 

Arguments will be forcefully made by both sides and all will have degrees of validity.

From my experience of then and now, I firmly believe that every area that wants to have vibrancy and dynamism needs a strong and beating heart, from which radiates leadership and inspiration. When the centre is weakened and the financial power is dissipated, then everyone ends up with half a cake, or less.

In the short-term, there will be more largesse to dispense to the regions, but that ultimately becomes meaningless, because the once-vibrant centre gradually becomes less dynamic and, therefore, generates less revenue for dispersal. The end result is that all areas become less well-served and less well-off.

Strange, too, that Government is incapable of being of one voice in this very important matter. As Minister Alan Kelly contemplates the dissolution of Cork City Council, his cabinet and party colleague, Brendan Howlin, stated not too long ago that the dissolution of the town councils was a mistake.

Interesting, too, that Mícheál Martin has had a Damascus-style conversion on this matter, as, I believe, he intimated his support for town councils on a recent pre-election visit to Killarney.

I strongly suggest to the Cork city elected councillors, and to the people of the city, that you fight tooth and nail for the retention of your council. I wish you success and hope that not only will you succeed, but that you will inspire a national rethink about what has already taken place. Rebels with a real cause. Go n-éirí libh.

Cllr Michael Gleeson

Killarney

Co Kerry