Deputy Michael Ring with present and former councillors at the Civic Reception accorded to him by Westport Town Council last week, front, from left: Aidan Clarke, Joe Beirne, Town Manager; Cllr Tereasa McGuire, Cathaoirleach; Michael Ring, Cllr Margaret Adams, Cllr Michael Mc Laughlin, Martin Keating, Senior Executive Officer and Michael Browne. Back, from left: Cllr Ollie Gannon, John Joe O’ Malley, Cllr Martin Keane, Cllr Brendan Mulroy, Judge Seamus Hughes, Cllr Peter Flynn, Cllr Austin Francis O’ Malley, Cllr Johnny O’ Malley, and Cllr Christy Hyland. ?Pic: Frank Dolan
Minister Michael Ring honoured by his Westport political contemporaries
Anton McNulty
“WESTPORT will not be left behind” was the message by new Minister for State, Michael Ring to Westport Town Council, who hosted a Civic Reception for the Westport native last week.
A large number of supporters and former colleagues who sat on Westport Town Council alongside Minister Ring were present at the Civic Reception which was given in his honour following his appointment as junior Minister at the Department Transport, Tourism and Sport.
Minister Ring’s life in politics began in 1979 when he was first elected to Westport Town Council and he said one of the proudest moments in politics would always be when he was elected Cathaoirleach of the town.
“I’m proud of Westport and tonight is a great honour for me and my family to receive a Civic Reception which is one of the greatest honours to be bestowed on you. I am very emotional tonight because it is a great honour when your people and community elect you. It is not about me being a Minister it is about the town of Westport being recognised at a national level. I will do everything for the country, the county and I have to say Westport won’t be left behind when the opportunity arises,” he said.
Minister Ring said that his work in Westport Town Council was for the people of the town and said the success of Westport in recent years was the councillors and officials working together for the good of the town.
“When I was first elected in ‘79 the big issue in Westport was the dereliction of the town. Unemployment was rife, the town was in a bad shape and as a Council we sat down and we decided to put Westport first and politics second. I have to say that has happened in every Council elected since and that is why Westport is where it is now.”
The current Cathaoirleach of Westport Town Council, Cllr Tereasa McGuire made a presentation on behalf of the Council to Minister Ring and to his wife Ann, and said that Michael Ring was a man of the people.
“He represents what a Teachta Dala should be and that is a messenger of the Dáil. When I was elected first, Michael Ring came to me and gave me some advice. He said whatever else you do, represent the people and listen and be a voice for the person who will never have a voice. He represents all the people and I have never met anyone who went to Michael Ring who said ‘he turned me away’,” she said.
Westport Town Manager Joe Beirne said that while Minister Ring could fight his corner and they would have the ‘odd row’ and ‘robust exchanges’, it would always be ‘business as unusual’ the next time they’d meet.
“He has a decency and honesty and goodness that has stood him well through his years in politics and it is great that after coming through the political system he has been made a Minister. It is a great honour for him and the people of Westport.”
