The now abolished Mallow Town Council included many great characters
IN the 90-year history of local politics many much loved and colourful characters sat on town councils nationwide and Mallow town was no different.
Since their formation in the early part of the 20th Century town councils and their members were a vibrant bunch and, to be fair, most of them took their positions and responsibilities to heart.
In Mallow over the years the local politicians were sometimes accused of being involved in ‘ talking shops’ when it came to the monthly town council meeting at the Town Hall chamber. But, in complete contrast in modern times, their presence is generally sorely missed by town folk after their disbandment six years ago and so the old saying … ‘you will never miss the water ‘ till the well runs dry’.
To win a seat in the Mallow nine seater council you had to secure at least 200 first preference votes, which seems a small amount but for a total poll of around 4,000 plus and a quota of approximately 400 this was no mean feat but a successful achievement. Politicians such as Joe Sherlock (R.I.P.) doubled that first preference figure on occasions while Labour’s James Kennedy topped the poll with a massive 726 votes in 2009.
In 1994 political newcomer John Joe Kelleher of Fine Gael swept the boards, securing 399 first preference votes, being one vote short of the quota of 400 in the first count behind Sherlock. Kelleher won the seat in the second count and served the full five years at Mallow chamber but never got involved in politics after.
Other popular politicians who served Mallow included Sean Wright and Tom Conroy of Fine Gael. Wright, who hailed from the Spa, was a popular and well-liked Worker / Director at Còmhlucht Siùicre Èireann for many years and served Mallow with distinction at Mallow Town Hall for many terms. He was very deeply involved in the Irish Guide Dogs For The Blind and generated much funds for the organisation with many social events, including the Guide Dogs annual walks.
He retired from politics in the late 1980s and sadly passed away in February 1995.
Tom Conroy was also active in Mallow affairs and served as both a Fine Gael and Independent candidate in the Town Council. Employed by
An Post he was a legendary figure in Mallow United affairs and he also masterminded the hugely successful four Mallow / London reunions of the 1980s which saw up to 200 locals travel to London annually to meet with Mallow people who were working in the English capital and other major cities at that time.
Conroy retired from local politics in 1999 and sadly he passed away in December 2002.
In more modern times, Joe and Sean Sherlock progressed to Dail Eireann while people such as Dan Joe Fitzgerald (R.I.P.), Noel O’Connor, Jerry Mullally and Ronan Sheehan made it to Cork County Council status during their political career.
Long serving Town Councillor David Willis was unsuccessful in his attempts in winning a seat in City Hall. After three terms as Town Councillor Willis retired from politics after his defeat in the 2009 town council election.
Town council counts were soaked in many emotions at St. Patrick’s Boys National School Hall. At this level in politics everybody knew everybody else and it was handshakes and sympathy across the board.
One of the most memorable nailbiters was in the dying hours on the 17th count in 1994. Fianna Fail long time councillor Ted O’Riordan requested a recount with Kathleen Scuffins for the ninth and final seat. Following the recount Scuffins was declared elected with a margin of three votes from O’Riordan, who later announced his retirement from politics.
Johnny Bottles Griffin was Mallow’s last Mayor and his final task was to close the door of Mallow chamber for the last time in the summer of 2014, marking the disbandment of town councils.