This article is from page 19 of the 2011-06-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 19 JPG
THE Banner County’s outstanding contribution to elected politics since the foundation of the state 90 years ago was celebrated at Clare County Council headquarters of Áras an Chláir last Friday.
Public represenatives, past and present, who spanned 70 of those 90 years were present to hear An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore hail the county’s “historic contribution” to politics and a local, national and international level.
Deputy Gilmore made his comments as he unveiled a Roll of Honour chronicling the record of service of every elected member of Clare County Council, Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann since independence.
“This scroll of service clearly identifies the names and the times of service of those who were elected to local and central government doing the past 90 years.
“This is significant because of the historical contribution of County Clare, that public representatives have made in County Clare and elections in County Clare have made, right back to the time of Daniel O’Connell, through the 1917 by-election in East Clare right through all the elections we have had in the history of the State,” said Minister Gilmore. “Clare has produced a disproportionate number of statespeople who have contributed to the life and progress of our country – it’s something that Clare can be immensely proud of.
“Here we have the names of the people who have served County Clare in Dáil Éireann, in Seanad Éireann, in government, on the County Council. It is right that the role they have played and the service they have given to their fellow citizens should be formally recognised,” he added.
“This Roll of Honour underlines the unswerving commitment and loyalty to the democratic principle of public representation by the named individuals during this period of our history,” said Mayor of Clare Christy Curtin. “It’s a permanent record of the public service and duty to the Banner County and will be the inspiration for present and future generations of Clare people to participate and engage fully with the democratic process.”
“This Roll of Honour marks the commitment and dedication of a lot of people, who have not asked what their county can do for them, but for what they can do for their county,” said county manager, Tom Coughlan.