*Newly elected Mayor of Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) with her Deputy Mayor, Cllr Pat Daly (FF).
AN EMOTIONAL Cllr Mary Howard (FG) remembered her late father Michael himself a giant in Clare politics as she became Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District for the first time.
On Thursday evening, Cllr Howard was elected as Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy’s (FF) successor in the hot seat. Despite serving on the County Council since 2014 and Ennis Town Council from 2009 to 2014, it is Mary’s first time getting the role of Mayor of the Ennis MD.
Friends and family were in the public gallery of Áras Contae an Chláir for Mary’s election including former Clare TD and ex Mayor of Clare, James Breen (IND), current Clare TD Joe Cooney (FG), former Mayor of Ennis, Mary Coote Ryan (FG), Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG), Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG), ex councillor Cillian Murphy (FF) and volunteers from Ennis Tidy Towns.
“People talk about your tribe and who is your tribe, this is my tribe,” Cllr Howard commented as she looked towards the public gallery. “Standing here I’m deeply humbled by the honour bestowed me, it is not about ceremony or the chain, I believe in the power of representation and of everyone being seen”.
She promised, “I will be your advocate, I will be your voice when decisions are made about our town, your voice will be carried into every forum when decisions are to be made for the future of the town”.
Every voice in the Municipal District from Kilnamona to Doora, Spancil Hill to Toonagh will be represented while she is Mayor, Mary stated. She also assured young people she would fight to have infrastructure in place “to give you every reason to stay in Ennis. To those that are marginalised, you have an advocate in this office”.
Mary continued, “As Mayor I will represent Ennis with dignity and pride, at Council meetings and when I speak for Ennis at national forums”. Receptions to be hosted by Cllr Howard during her tenure “will showcase the best of what we are”.
Decisions made will be based on what is in the best interests of Ennis, Cllr Howard said. “Some positions will be challenging but every stance will be guided by one principle which is what is the best for the people of Ennis”.
Tears flowed from Mary as she recalled that the “best insights for our town comes from kitchen tables, community gatherings and something my father knew quite well from his business in The One Mile Inn, let us remember the wisdom of older generations”.
Proposing Mary for the role, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) said he “great delight” in putting forward his party colleague. He noted her time as Mayor of Clare was “unfortunately a COVID year but she still fulfilled the job with distinction, she is very strong on women’s health and deserves to be commended for that, she is very strong in her community, very active on Ennis Tidy Towns where she is Chairperson and also with Darkness into Light”. He added, “you will fulfil the role in style, you’re the lady in pink so you won’t be missed going around the town this evening”.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) quipped, “she’s very shy and not photogenic but I’d say she’ll manage as Mayor”. He flagged she has served as Chairperson “on so many committees” and referring to her pink dress said, “Chris de Burgh would say lady in red but she’s the lady in pink”.
Her predecessor Colleran Molloy commented, “isn’t it great to have two women succeed each other, we don’t see enough of it. Your heart is in the right place for Ennis, for the people who live here and those who will be in the future, you just don’t think of the here and now, you will lead us in addressing the concerns from the people of Ennis while we undertake some tough decisions”.
All elected representatives are “here for the good of the town,” remarked Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF). “I’ve been self employed for nearly twenty years but as a councillor in this Chamber is one of the most challenging jobs because you’re dealing with many issues and challenges”. He issued a note of caution, “Myself and Pat have two microphones that do work and we look forward to using them” to which Cllr Howard responded, “I’ll rise to the challenge”.
Outgoing Deputy Mayor, Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) encouraged Cllr Howard “enjoy it as much as you can”. She referenced a recent event with a group from Texas in Ennis where Mary “took off naturally and sold our town so well, there will be issues but today is a celebration”.
Best wishes were also extended by Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle (SF). “I did have a laugh with Clare Colleran Molloy when she broke out in tears after her AGM, I think you promised you wouldn’t’;t but there was a flow of tears so I thought we’d have to call the fire brigade but you meant it and it was from the heart”.
There is great pride in the “Howard ancestral home of Ballynalacken” at the career of Mary and her family, Cllr Garrihy stated. “What is good for Ennis is good for the county”.
Senior engineer, Seán Lenihan assured the incoming Mayor she would have the full support of Ennis MD staff.
Elected to the role of Deputy Mayor was Cllr Daly. “I’m delighted to take on the position, I’ve been Mayor a few times but never Deputy Mayor, I’ll keep a good eye on Mary Howard, the Lady in Pink”.
In proposing him for the role, Cllr O’Callaghan described him as “a real Townie” and “very helpful” during his time trying to garner support for the post office network. Cllr Baker Bashua seconded the proposal, “He is someone we all looked up to, if we needed help we asked him, I asked him for help and my mother said as of late, I’ll ring Pat and ask him to help me. I’m hoping as Deputy Mayor he will be too busy to be answering my mother’s calls”.
