Tara and the Motorway

Archaeologists have identified pre-Celtic monuments and buildings in Tara dating back to the Neolithic period around 5,000 years ago.

Tara is our Pyramid, our Stonehenge, our Grand Canyon.

Why oh why are we running a motorway through it. What is wrong with us as a nation. Why have we no respect for our heritage. Why must progress destroy our ancient origins?

Did you vote Fianna Fail?

Of the people, for the people, by the people

Next week Westport Town Council will meet to elect your Mayor for a year. I think this is wrong. I think you should elect the person you want to be Mayor and I think that person should be given the power to make the day to day decisions that effect your life.

The current system means that a councillor is elected by the others to serve a one year term of office. I think that they should serve a full five year term. One year is not enough time to achieve anything significant and there is no continuation of policies or priorities as these change from individual to individual.

Also the office is too weak. A Mayor should have the power to get things done in co-operation with the councillors. Currently all day to day powers rest with the Manager as opposed to your elected councillors.

John Gormley is now the man with the power to change local government and put the power back in your hands and in the hands of your elected representatives. He has promised to publish reforms in six months. I hope he will deliver.

Update on Quay Hill pavement repairs-success!

At the council meeting last night I welcomed the commitment given by Mayo County Council this week to examine the Quay Hill pavement and undertake any repairs necessary.

I raised the thorny issue of the condition of the Quay Hill Pavement under the Town Council’s Roadworks Scheme, which we were discussing at the June meeting of Westport Town Council.

At that meeting Mr Peter Hynes, who is Westport Town Manager and also Mayo County Council’s Director of Services for the area, admitted that the County Council had responsibility for the road and pavement up the Quay Hill. Mr Hynes explained that a commitment was given at Monday’s (June 11) meeting of the Westport Area Committee to examine the pavement and make any needed repairs.

I am glad that the County Council has committed itself to repairing this pavement. It is an awful condition. I have led the charge on this issue and I am delighted to see real progress on this. I had threatened to do the repairs myself if the terrible situation on the Quay Hill pavement continued but I will be putting away my shovel-for now!