Cllr Séamus Weir hailed for ‘tremendous’ service to Knockmore at his final area meeting

RETIRING county councillor Séamus Weir has been hailed for giving as much service to his area as a politician as he did on the football field.

Cllr Weir received warm compliments from elected representatives and Mayo County Council officials at his final municipal district meeting in his native Knockmore.

Today’s meeting of Ballina Municipal District, which was held in Knockmore/Rathduff Resource Centre, was also chaired by the Independent councillor.

Cllr Weir enjoyed a successful football career with Knockmore before he was first elected to Mayo County Council in 1999 as a member of Fine Gael.

He later left the party over a dispute over proposals for overhead pylons in his area and was subsequently re-elected as an Independent.

During his 25 years as a councillor, he wore the chain of Mayo County Council Cathaoirleach twice; in 2007-2008 and 2022-2023. His last term as Cathaoirleach coincided with the visit of US President Joe Biden to Ballina in 2023.

VISION

PAYING tribute to his service, Bernard Cumiskey, Chairman of Knockmore/Rathduff Resource Centre, presented Cllr Weir with an image of Lough Conn with Nephin standing in the background.

Mr Cumiskey recalled how the then Fine Gael councillor had ‘a vision’ to turn what was a derelict building into a community hall 22 years previously.

Over the next few years, fundraising and organising took place to construct the Knockmore/Rathduff Resource Centre, which Mr Cumiskey described as a ‘fantastic’ facility.

Mr Cumiskey also pointed to the new walkway facility near Knockmore GAA Club’s grounds and the state of roads in commending Cllr Weir's service. 

“Seamus, you are at the end of a tremendous period where you certainly have delivered,” he said, before wishing him well in his retirement.

Speaking after Mr Cumiskey’s remarks, Cllr Weir said his decision not to seek re-election was ‘not easy’.

Cllr Weir his decision to retire was motivated by his desire to spend more time with his family.

He thanked his fellow councillors and council officials, as well as the people involved in the running of Knockmore/Rathduff Community Centre.

Council officials and fellow county councillors also paid warm tributes to Cllr Weir.

“He brought great pride to the place in a football jersey. He did the same as an elected representative,” said Cllr Jarlath Munnelly, who complimented the projects Cllr Weir helped deliver in his area.

“It’s good that you’re picking to go yourself. I can see why Séamus isn’t going again, it’s because he has everything done.”

END OF AN ERA

INDEPENDENT county councillor Mark Duffy described Cllr Weir’s departure from elected office as ‘an end of an era’, stating that it was ‘a privilege’ to work with him.

Cllr Michael Loftus, who is the current Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, thanked him for his service to his area:

“In the ten years I’ve been here with you, we may not have agreed on everything, but we were always looking for the betterment of the communities that we were involved in.”

Cllr Loftus added: “There’s so much, in fairness, that you’ve achieved in this district. It’s a credit to you.”

His compliments were echoed by his fellow Fianna Fáil councillor Annie May Reape, who described the Knockmore/Rathduff Resource Centre as ‘a monument’ to his work as a councillor.

Council employees Tom Gilligan, Declan Turnbull, and Orla Bourke also extended their thanks and well wishes to Cllr Weir on behalf of Mayo County Council.

Cllr Weir received a standing ovation from his fellow councillors and council officials at the end of the meeting.