Tense exchanges at West Waterford council over Royal British Legion event

A row erupted at the end of the July sitting of the Dungarvan-Lismore District Council over the Cathaoirleach’s attendance at a Royal British Legion event last Saturday.

Sinn Féin councillor Kate O’Mahoney raised an objection to Dungarvan-Lismore  Cathaoirleach Niamh O’Donovan representing the council at the event.   

She said the Cathaoirleach’s attendance should have been discussed with the council’s members.

In particular she expressed concern that the event will feature the Royal Irish Regiment Band, which is a regiment with a complex and at times contentious history with Ireland.

“The reality is it wasn’t a neutral event. It is politically and historically contentious," she said.

"There was no obligation on the council to attend a British Legion event. 

"This kind of sensitive matter should have been discussed instead of being decided unilaterally.

"It implied endorsement on behalf of the entire council, but that is not really acceptable in our eyes without proper consultation,” added Cllr O’Mahoney.

District Manager Ivan Grimes interrupted the councillor.

“With the greatest respect, councillor, I think that is a matter that should be brought up at the CPG (Corporate Policy Group) rather than at a public meeting,” said Mr Grimes.

Cllr O’Mahoney responded, “but it wasn’t brought up at the CPG,” to which Mr Grimes said that the complaint should be brought there.

Sinn Féin's Cllr Donnchadh Mulcahy said that he also had concerns about the Cathaoirleach’s attendance.

Fianna Fáil's Cllr Tom Cronin interjected to point out that Cllr Jim Griffin is the Sinn Fein representative on the CPG, which the Cathaoirleach said was noted.

But, Independent Cllr Joe O’Riordan said that he didn’t understand "the intervention.” He said he was conflicted about the issue because of his family connections to the Royal Irish Regiment.

But he also said: “I don’t see the value today, to be honest, of bringing it up. I don’t see the value in it. I see the merit in it, but I don’t see the value in it, and I think it's better that we go back to the CPG and just bring it back to the CPG.

“Like I don’t blame you, Cathaoirleach, but it's just that it came as a bit of a shock to see it, but the important thing is this is not the forum for it.” 

Fine Gael's Cllr Damien Geoghegan responded: “It shouldn’t be a shock to anyone. In 2015, the then Sinn Fein Lord Mayor of Dublin attended the Royal British Legion event in Islandbridge in Dublin - that is a fact. So, coming in here today, trying to knock you on your very first day."

The room then erupted in shouting until the Cathaoirleach took back control of the meeting.

“Cllr Geoghegan, I did not take that personally, but I just want to finish the correspondence if that is okay,” said Cllr O’Donovan.