Jimmy Malone gets to wear new Ardee chains
Fittingly, the peace motto recently adopted by the Ardee Commissioners for a Coat of Arms — Na Bris Sith; NA Bris Cairdeas — as contained in the epic talc of the Tain Bo, is inscribed on the chain of office handed over by the Bank of Ireland at a presentation ceremony in the offices of the Commissioners on Wednesday night last.
Fittingly, also, its first wearer should be the longest serving member of the present body, Colr. Jimmy Malone, who has unbroken service stretching back to 1945, and who, a week or two ago, was elected chairman after a three-way tie.
New manager of the Ardee Bank of Ireland branch, Mr. Tom Regan, said they were delighted to be involved in a presentation of an insignia.
Through the former Hibernian Bank and the Bank of Ireland, there had been continuous association with the Town Commissioners since they came into being in 1854.
Mr. Regan recalled that prior to 1854, the affairs of the town were in the hands of Ardee Corporation.
The Mace presented by William of Orange to the Corporation in the 17th Century was in the Bank of Ireland s custody on behalf of the Commissioners.
Mr. Regan congratulated the Commissioners on what he described at their “continued good work on the local community’s behalf,” and wished them continued success.
Colr. Malone expressed sincere appreciation on the Bank of Ireland’s fine gesture in presenting “such a Beautiful chain of office thus forging another link in the bank’s long associations with the town and the people of Ardee”.
Developing the point made by Mr. Regan on the days when Ardee had a Corporation, created by Royal Charter, Coir. Malone said that all that remained of the “grandure of that period” was the silver mace which he believed went back to 1661.
By a coincidence, he had the honour of carrying the mace on the only occasion in living memory on which it was publicly featured.
It was for a St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and as the then vice-chairman, he was deputising for chairman, Mr. John Thorne who was in Armagh representing the Commissioners at an enthronement.
The chairman said the town had sustained a number of industrial blows in the recent past, in the closure of established concerns such as the Ardee Chair Factory and the former Castleguard Textile Company,
But he was confident that they had left the worst behind. “With the introduction of new industries and others in the pipeline, it is my confirmed view that the eighties will be a decade of progress and prosperity for the Deeside.”
Speaking at a subsequent reception in Mr. Jim McCoy’s, Mr. Charlie O’Donoghue, Acting County Secretary, apologised for the absence of Co. Manager, Mr. Paddy Lavin.
Mr. O’Donoghue said the Bank of Ireland had shown great perspicacity in the presentation of a chain of office to Ardee Commissioners.
It was an impressive gesture, and one which “the County Council as the premier body in Louth had not even the authority to do”. It was worthy of record that the Bank of Ireland had made a similar presentation some time back to the Co. Council.
The attendance at the two functions included the Town Commissioners as a body; Town Clerk, Mr. John Reilly; as well as Bank of Ireland personnel Messrs Jim Cox. Business Development Officer; Peter McF. eely, asst. Manager, Ardee, and other senior staff.