The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kenmare takes Mayoral chain for the first time
Cllr Ferris criticises ‘coronation’ as O’Connor-Scarteen takes expected win
HISTORY was made on Monday when, as expected, Fine Gael Cllr Patrick O’Connor-Scarteen became the first Kenmare man in the 121-year history of Kerry County Council to be elected Cathaoirleach of the county.
The O’Connor-Scarteen political dynasty is one of the longest-serving in the country, with Cllr O’Connor-Scarteen’s grandfather, granduncle, and father having served on Kerry County Council before him. He is, however, the first member of the family to hold the Chain of Office as Mayor of Kerry.
‘‘Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet,’’ the Kenmare Councillor remarked after winning a two-man contest for the role against Sinn Féin Cllr Robert Beasley.
‘‘The ‘Scarteens’ are not noted for long speeches. However, please bear with me on this occasion, as we’ve been waiting three quarters of a century for this day,’’ he added.
His election as Cathaoirleach at Kerry County Council’s Annual General Meeting had been considered a sure thing beforehand following a voting pact agreed by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael following the last local elections.
Indeed, before the vote even took place in the Kerry Sports Academy, several Councillors congratulated Cllr O’Connor-Scarteen and wished him well in the role while they were acknowledging the end of Cllr Niall Kelleher’s term in the hotseat.
This irked Sinn Féin Councillor Deirdre Ferris, who later seconded her colleague Tom Barry’s proposal of Robert Beasley for the role.
‘‘Excuse my ignorance, but I was of the opinion that the Mayor was being elected today, that it wasn’t a coronation?’’ Cllr Ferris said in the minutes leading up to the vote.
When seconding Cllr Barry’s proposal, she repeated that the vote was effectively a ‘‘coronation’’.
‘‘I find that very disappointing,’’ she said. ‘‘It totally undermines the democratic process.’’
After being proposed for the role by Cllr Bobby O’Connell and seconded by Séamus ‘Cosaí’ Fitzgerald, Cllr O’Connor-Scarteen went on to win the contest by 29 votes to four, with only Sinn Féin’s four councillors voting against the 43-year-old as he became the 65 th person to hold the chain of office.
Among his priorities, Cllr
O’Connor-Scarteen has vowed to promote Kerry as a safe destination for tourism amid the current global health crisis, while he backed digital hubs to support remote working, which he feels ‘‘could be a game-changer in reversing rural decline’’.
He also called for an end to Direct Provision and said ‘‘How Ireland assists refugees and asylum seekers needs to be radically changed’’. He added once again his support for Greenway projects in the county, called for improved IDA results in the county, and for the ‘‘Tarbert/ Ballylongford land-bank [to be] utilised to its full potential’’.
Cllr O’Connor-Scarteen was joined on the day by family and extended family, including his parents – Michael and Eleanor
– and his wife, Katie, to whom he paid extensive tribute.
‘‘Although today marks the highlight of my political career, it comes nowhere near the best day of my life, when I married Katie last September,’’ he said. ‘‘Katie is full of life, she gives whatever she is involved in well over 100 per cent. I’m lucky she has a good interest in politics, and it helps she has the same persuasion,’’ he joked.
He joined his fellow Councillors in paying tribute to outgoing Cathaoirleach Niall Kelleher and Leas-Cathaoirleach Norma Moriarty.
‘‘Unfortunately [Cllr Kelleher] didn’t get to experience the second half of his term as normal, however when difficulties associated with the Coronavirus pandemic arose, he excelled in his duties,’’ he said. ‘‘He was professional and fair in his approach throughout his term.
‘‘When duty called, the outgoing Deputy Mayor, Norma Moriarty, stepped up to the mark; she is undoubtedly one of the best Councillors I have ever worked with.’’
His party colleague, Cllr Aoife Thornton, will serve as Leas-Cathaoirleach after she, too, beat Cllr Beasley by 22 votes to six, with the three Healy-Rae Councillors this time voting in favour of Cllr Beasley. There were five abstentions – including, Cllr Beasley, who was not present to vote for himself.
Cllrs John Francis Flynn, Donal Grady, Sam Locke, and Terry O’Brien were also absent.