Five times mayor and a former chair of Sligo County Council, Rosaleen O’Grady calls time on her long political career
AFTER 25 years as an elected politician, Fianna Fáil county councillor Rosaleen O’Grady has decided to retire, citing personal reasons.
A nurse by profession, she served as Mayor of Sligo five times and once as cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council.
She had a hectic introduction to politics, elected Mayor on her first day in Sligo Borough Council in 1999.
Explaining her decision to retire, she said she did so for “personal reasons” in consultation with her family and friends that it was time to “step out”, adding that while she wasn’t ready for that “step out” it’s important that she would do so.
“I venture into retirement with a lifetime of special memories, having worked alongside and befriended many outstanding individuals in every walk of life,” she said.
“It has been a wonderful experience for me, it has been an honour and privilege to represent the people for more than 25 years and I want to thank the electorate for putting their trust in me and I want to thank my very small loyal canvas team who stayed with me over 25 years to ensure I was elected on five occasions,” she said.
Asked if she enjoyed her time in politics, she said she “had a wonderful life” adding it was a great privilege to represent people.
She first ran for election in 1994, narrowly missing out on gaining a seat. Five years later she was duly elected and her 25-year stint at the heart of local issues saw her using her nursing background and an innate desire for helping others to great effect.
CIVIC RECEPTIONS
Highlights of her terms in office include memorable civic receptions for Westlife, her connections to the three Sligo band members in particular very close - recalling how she assisted in the delivery of one band member, Mark Feehily. Cian Egan, she explained, played soccer with her son Conor, while she also knew Shane Filan.
Perhaps one of the most remarkable of many ventures she drove forward was a cancer charity walk held on the night before the new mid-block route opened. That short but very effective charity walk raised more than €100,000 and the money was immediately used for much needed mammography services.
She was also front and centre in assisting the Irish Kidney Association in Sligo, a founding member locally, and representatives of that organisation, among them former editor of this paper Brian McHugh, were among the many to pay tribute to her as news of her intention to step away from elected politics emerged on Tuesday.
Hugely popular across the political divide, she was seen as the ‘mother’ of the County Council and was particularly helpful to newly elected councillors. This week in various media interviews she was keen to stress that she would be more than happy to offer guidance and advice to anyone, regardless of their party affiliation or none, who had an inkling to venture into politics.
Speaking to the Sligo Weekender, Cllr O’Grady said she “loved every minute” of her time as an elected representative and confessed that she would struggle to adjust to life without that involvement.
She had a remarkable career. She chaired and served on many committees that would not have the same profile but discreetly and diligently carried out very important work such as the Joint Policing Committee, The Association of Irish local Gov. The Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board, Sligo Harbour Board, The Hawk’s well Theatre, Sligo Sports Partnership and the Sligo Sports Complex.
She said her career in the health service meant health and wellbeing issues were always close to her heart.
“I took great pride in serving on the North Western Health Board and Chairing the Alcohol and Drug Task Force. I was a member of the Irish Tobacco Board at a pivotal time when the ‘Smoking ban’ was introduced.”
CHARITY INITIATIVES
Referring to her charity initiatives she said she always took a keen interest in supporting health-related charities, including organising a very successful inaugural work on Sligo’s new Inner Relief Road raising the necessary funding to purchase a Mammography machine for Sligo University Hospital, a much-needed facility which brought huge benefits to the people of Sligo and the surrounding regions.
“I was also a founding member of the Sligo Branch of the Irish Kidney Association and was involved in the provision of a renal dialysis unit at SUH,” she said.
She explained why City Hall would always be a special place for her: “Sligo City Hall will always be a special place to me as my parents first met at a céilí there. I hosted and attended numerous receptions and honoured many individuals in City Hall, including bestowing the Freedom of the Borough on Westlife.”
Other key events hosted were in the Centenary of the 1916 Rising and the 400th Anniversary of Sligo Borough.
She said one of the key responsibilities of anyone involved in public life is to extend the hand of friendship to our visitors. “As Chair of the Town Twinning Committee, I was involved in many exchanges with our twin towns of Crozon, Kempten and Tallahassee, and I welcomed every opportunity to promote and showcase our wonderful town and county.
“In this context I was fortunate to be associated with events that profiled Sligo on a national and international stage, including the AllIreland Fleadh in 2014 and 2015 and the National Famine Commemoration which was hosted in Sligo in 2019.”
She agreed that sport was a hugely important part of her life, and it was a special privilege for her as Mayor to welcome the Sligo Rovers FAI Cup winning team of 2010 to City Hall captained by her son Conor.
She recalled with fondness her working relationship with the executive of Sligo County Council. Referring to the Borough Council she recalled the wonderful help she received from Town Clerk, the late John McNabola. “I was at his elbow for a long time,” she said.
She also praised the current Chief Executive of Sligo County Council, Martin Lydon, who she said treated her and fellow councillors with the utmost respect.
She said she believed the key thing for her as a political advocate was the need to support the communities she represented.
“While the social and political landscape has changed since I entered politics, the principles remain the same – you have to do your utmost to support the people and communities you represent. The role of a Councillor has become more challenging with greater demands and higher expectations. I wish the incoming Council in June every success in continuing to grow and develop in Sligo.”
A member of Sligo County Council and Sligo Borough Council she said she never felt her job as a politician was a thankless one. She conceded that at times she couldn’t deliver on every thing asked of her by constituents, but she added: “if you always tried your best that always helped you to keep going.”
She said a life in politics would not have been remotely possible without the loyal support of a small canvas team who remained faithful to me for over 25 years and the electorate who supported and placed their trust in me over 5 elections.
She thanked her husband Kevin, her family Conor and Aine, Ronan and Aileen, Caolán and Niamh, and Caoimhe and Kevin.
“The sacrifices they made and the encouragement they gave enabled me to pursue a career in public life and for this, I am eternally grateful,” she said.
COLLEAGUE’S TRIBUTE Tom MacSharry has paid tribute to his fellow Fianna Fáil councillor Rosaleen O’Grady who announced her retirement from politics this week.
He said Rosaleen’s unwavering dedication to local politics in Sligo especially in the area of healthcare, reflects her remarkable service as an outstanding public representative over many years. I want to wish Rosaleen, Kevin, and family very best wishes in her retirement,” he said.