New role mooted for retiring TDs

Councillors in the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District have called for retired TDs Michael Ring and Éamon Ó Cuív to head up a proposed body that would advocate for developments along Ireland’s west coast.

Cllr Damien Ryan paid tribute to both TDs, neither of whom contested the recent general election after lengthy, distinguished careers on both the front and back benches of Dáil Eireann.

Mr Ó Cuív served in the Galway West constituency for 32 years, including in recent years when large swathes of south Mayo were part of Galway West. Mr Ring was first elected to Westport Urban District Council in 1979 and won his seat in Dáil Éireann in 1994, retaining it in each election since then.

“The two men were legends in their own right and both did so much for the south Mayo area,” said Cllr Ryan.

“These two men and other retired officials now need to form part of a body to see how we can move things forward on the West Coast. The expertise is there,” he said.

Fine Gael Cllr Michael Burke lent support to this and said Mr Ring had been amenable to the idea in the past. Cllr Alma Gallagher also paid tribute to the role Mr Ring played in Mayo politics over the course of his long career.