Outgoing Mayor Keaney says new jobs on horizon
OUTGOING Mayor of Sligo Municipal District Fine Gael Councillor Hubert Keaney officially handed over the chain of office to his successor Fianna Fáil Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady at Monday’s AGM in City Hall.
He marked his year in office with a Mayoral Reception in the Model Niland Gallery last Saturday.
It was a very special evening, celebrating Sligo’s unique cultural heritage. All proceeds went to the North West Hospice, Friends of Sligo University Hospital and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
In his farewell speech, Cllr Keaney thanked the Executive of Sligo County Council for their co-operation throughout the year.
He also pointed to the roadworks on the N15 and the new street lights he saw going up in Sligo. “Sligo has an awful lot of work underway,” he told members.
He said the recent jobs announcement of up to 400 jobs would be a “massive boost to the Sligo economy” and said the construction of the N4 Castlebaldwin to Collooney upgrade would bring another “200-250 jobs” at least.
“There’s a lot of positive things in Sligo,” he said, thanking his wife Christina and his children: “Your family are your rock.”
Members paid tribute to Cllr Keaney for carrying out his duties with “dignity” over the past year.
Cllr Seamus Kilgannon congratulated him on a “job well done.” Cllr Declan Bree said he had conducted meetings in “a very efficient manner.”
Cllr Tom MacSharry said Cllr Keaney had been “an excellent ambassador” for Sligo and “exceptionally fair.” Cllr Marie Casserly and new Mayor Rosaleen O’Grady also paid tribute.