Editorial: Recognising achievements - one of the most important roles of the Council
Council Chamber in Waterford's City Hall.
Last week, Ballygunner GAA were afforded the highest honour that the Mayor of a local authority can bestow upon members of the public, a Civic Reception.
During the engagement, all 32 councillors put their political differences aside and joined together to congratulate the club on claiming the AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship title in January.
Recognising the efforts of Waterford people is one of the most important roles that a Mayor inherits when they are elected, and they do so through hosting Mayoral Receptions, which serve a similar function to that of Civic Receptions.
In Waterford, Mayor Seamus Ryan has been particularly active in hosting Mayoral Receptions since his election, as has his Deputy Mayor John Pratt, and Cathaoirleach of the Dungarvan/Lismore Municipal District Niamh O’Donovan.
In the past number of months, hundreds of locals have been invited for receptions. Piper James Stone, MMA fighter Solomon Simon, SETU youth choir, the Waterford FC Down Syndrome Futsal Team, Waterford's Community Gardaí, and a young man named Charlie Costello who in an act of bravery jumped into the River Barrow to save a person in distress. These are just a few of the groups and individuals who the Council have organised receptions for recently.
The receptions take place in City Hall, or in the Council Chamber at the Civic Offices in Dungarvan, buildings that can sometimes feel like imposing spaces where important decisions are made by directors and elected representatives behind closed doors.
In this respect, the receptions hold the vitally important role of opening up Council spaces to the public. They serve as a reminder that such buildings are a symbol of local democracy and are civic spaces that exist for the public.
Architecturally and aesthetically, Waterford is lucky to have a very impressive City Hall building, and guests are always impressed when they get the chance to step foot inside.
Once gathered in the Mayor’s Parlour, the receptions typically follow the same procedure; guests are offered refreshments, a scroll is presented and a written speech is delivered.
Mayor Ryan tends to add his own personal touch to the receptions, providing his own anecdotal words of thanks and celebration before beginning into his formal speech. A meaningful gesture that guests always seem to appreciate.
The speeches delivered by the Mayor or Cathaoirleachs always do a good job linking the individual's or group's achievement to Waterford as a whole, highlighting the moment as one of shared pride that the entire city and county will benefit from.
For a local newspaper, attending City Hall to engage with the Mayor and our elected representatives is part of the job and naturally starts to feel like routine, and so it is easy to forget the significance that such receptions have for members of the public, particularly young people, who may never have had the chance to step foot inside City Hall or meet a Mayor if not for the invitation.
The receptions are one of the most important activities of an elected representative, and for journalists they are amongst the most rewarding and engaging events that we attend.
