*Clare County Council staff and elected members with Bill Chambers and his family.
TRIBUTES to long-serving political representative and former councillor, Bill Chambers (FF) were made by Fianna Fáil members in Kilrush on Sunday evening.
In November, Chambers tendered his resignation from Clare County Council where he had held unbroken service over thirty eight years since his first election in 1985. The father of five had his proudest moments in politics when he became Mayor of Clare in 2016 while the recent inclusion of his native Cooraclare in a €50m pilot national wastewater treatment scheme is among his greatest achievements.
Bill and his family were the guests of honour in The Old Ground Hotel on Monday last following the December meeting of Clare County Council as the local authority honoured him for his contribution by presenting an inscribed piece of glass and a framed certificate. The event was attended by county councillors and senior officials in the Council.
Cllr Mary Howard (FG) described it as “a special evening celebrating the retirement of our friend and colleague”. “We are sorry to see Bill retire, we will all miss his easy smile and gentle guidance, but wish him and his family every blessing for the future,” the Ennis woman stated.
On Sunday evening, Fianna Fáil members in West Clare gathered to select Bill’s successor on the local authority for the next six months up until the 2024 elections. Although there was no presentation made to Bill at this occasion, there was plenty of plaudits instead.
Rita McInerney who won the vote to fill the seat vacated by Bill acknowledged her predecessor. “Bill worked tirelessly for West Clare, his shoes will be very hard to fill”.
Paying tribute to “our good friend Bill,” Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) told the convention that he served side by side with Bill for thirty eight years. “It will be a very hard challenge to replace him,” the Lissycasey representative commented.
According to Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF), “Bill is one of the most honest men I’ve had the privilege of knowing, if he said he was backing you then he was because his word was his bond”.
“We will miss Bill, he was very good to promote West Clare all the time,” noted Cllr Joe Killeen (FF).
