The day de wimmin leaned in at City Hall

The new Mayor of Sligo Municipal District Cllr Hubert Keaney can’t have enjoyed his election victory last Monday very much. He was spectacularly upstaged by de wimmin of Sligo Municipal District.

Outgoing Mayor Cllr Marie Casserly perhaps gave a hint of what was to come in her final speech before the election of Sligo town’s First Citizen.

Channeling her inner Michelle Obama, she said that while she’d enjoyed many highlights, there were also “plenty of frustrations”, adding with a not- so- veiled hint, “When they go low, we go high.”

“A woman always brings something special to the table,” agreed Cllr Rosaleen O’Grady.

A breathless Cllr Sinead Maguire then burst into the Chamber. She had gone to Riverside instead of City Hall, nearly missing her chance to strike for the top job.

A letter from Fine Gael was flourished, in which Cllr Hubert Keaney ( who served as Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council up until the same day) proposed himself for Mayor, signed by himself and Cllr Dara Mulvey, but not Cllr Maguire.

Cllr Seamus Kilgannon rapidly seconded it. He had his own election as Cathaoirleach at Riverside to look forward to in less than two hours. Beaming members of Cllr Keaney’s family entered the chamber, ready to witness the great moment.

“I propose Cllr Sinead Maguire,” said Cllr Casserly, landing the first punch.

“I second that nomination,” followed Cllr Maguire.

A volley of outrage was fired back from the other members. Simmering tensions burst to the surface. How could Cllr Casserly break from the d’Hondt system? A system that had served their interests so well over the years, ensuring each party got a slice of the pie during the five year term of the Council? This would not do at all, at all.

Cllr Keaney’s family left the room. Things were not going to plan.

Cllr Declan Bree was “disappointed” in Cllr Casserly and couldn’t resist a dig - “I’m not sure if you’ve joined Fine Gael or not but perhaps you can clarify that.”

Cllr Rosaleen O’Grady said it was “not the job of Fianna Fáil to decide” who Fine Gael wanted to propose as Mayor.

Cllr Chris MacManus refused to lower Sinn Féin to that of a “referee in internal Fine Gael squabbles.”

One after the other, they towed the line. They were all sticking to the d’Hondt system.

Council Chief Executive Ciarán Hayes pulled out the rule book and read the Riot - sorry – Local Government Act 2001.

“I’m glad to see the Chief Executive understands the d’Hondt system, even if the outgoing Mayor doesn’t,” said a disgusted Cllr Tom MacSharry.

“It’s a gentleman’s agreement with all due respect,” added Cllr MacManus.

Perhaps that was the point. A recess was called, in which a pained- looking Cllr Keaney had to speak alone with Cllr Maguire in a room the size of a broom cupboard. Fine Gael stepped out and Fianna Fáil stepped in again. Then everybody bar the two Fine Gael nominees went into the broom cupboard while Cllr Maguire looked over a script in the chamber, a victory speech perhaps?

Twenty minutes of awkwardness later, the meeting reconvened.

“Have we agreement?” asked Cllr Casserly gingerly.

“No, I’d like it to be put to a vote,” said Cllr Maguire, leaning in to her microphone.

All councillors - bar Cllr MacManus who abstained and Cllr Thomas Healy who was absent- then voted for Cllr Keaney, leaving Cllr Maguire with just two votes from herself and Cllr Casserly.

Convincing her fellow councillor members to break with the d’Hondt system was never going to happen.

Cllr Keaney was back in business. He skipped to the top chair, shaking hands with the three Fianna Fáil soldiers of destiny as he passed. His family was sent for.

After thanking the troops, he proclaimed that for the next two hours he would hold the position of both Cathaoi reach and Mayor of Sligo.

“That might be an interesting question at tables quizzes in years to come,” he chirped.

The office of Mayor was not what it was in the old Borough Council came the humble brag - bumble for short- “but it is to the people of Sligo.”

Cllr Maguire was first to congratulate her victor – but saved the best til last, with a full frontal attack on local politics. She too, had hoped to be Mayor today. The initial divvying of posts among the Fine Gael councillors was inequitable. She slammed “the schoolyard culture of hierarchical treatment” handed down from one 5- year term to the next. And no, she wouldn’t just suck it up and shut up.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, the councillors recovered just enough to elect Cllr Chris MacManus as Deputy Mayor, earning him the first ( weak) round of applause of the day.

Did that really happen? Sensing the need to confirm for us all that it just did, Cllr Tom MacSharry said he was “heartened by Cllr Maguire’s honesty”. They had to reconsider the Local Government Act, he added.

Turkeys and Christmas anyone?