Warm tributes paid to retiring councillors

There were warm tributes to two Mayo councillors who are retiring from politics after 25 years.

Fine Gael councillor John Cribbin and Independent councillor Seamus Weir recently attended their final meeting of Mayo County Council.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Michael Loftus led the tributes to both men. He described Cllr Cribbin as an "absolute gentleman". 

“Since I started here in 2014, I got to meet a man who I have admired so much when he would get up to speak in the council and what he said and what he did for his community. I would have loved to be one of his constituents because he cared so much for them,” he said.

Cllr Loftus said Cllr Weir left a lasting legacy in Mayo and his beloved Knockmore. 

“I want to acknowledge Seamus and the 25 years of service he has given to Mayo County Council."

Fine Gael councillor Michael Burke said Cllr Cribbin was "a great colleague, a great councillor and a fantastic representative”. He said Cllr Weir was an ‘honourable’ councillor whose commitment to his community never wavered.

Fianna Fail’s Damien Ryan praised the retiring councillors for the commitment they gave. 

“Their contributions to the council has always been in the interest of the communities they serve and they have done that famously well. Both have held of the office of Cathaoirleach and represented this council with distinction.” 

Cllr Al McDonnell said the council will feel their departures.

“It’s a sad occasion, we are losing two special people. Two honest genuine people who spoke passionatately and not very often. But when they spoke, they spoke with passion,” said Cllr McDonnell.

“I’ll never forget the contributions of Cllr Weir when those famous pylons were on the way. He felt very passionately about that and so did is constutuents, and they rewarded him,” he added.

He said Cllr Cribbin and Cllr Weir can look back on their time in the chamber with “great pride". 

There were humourous asides as tributes were paid to both men. References were made to Cllr Cribbin’s love of "simple food" and Cllr Weir’s horror when a "bowl of cooked cheese" was served up to him and Cllr John O’Malley in Austria. 

Cllr Gerry Coyle joked of Cllr Cribbin’s "vice-like handshake".

Cllr John O’Malley recalled Cllr Cribbin telling constituents upon his election as Cathaoirleach that nothing would change. 

“He told them, ‘Just because I have the chain, things won’t change. I’ll still be doing the same things, the wellingtons and the stick will still be in the car with me!”