West Mayo councillors propose civic receptions for Ring and teen motorcycle champ

Councillors in west Mayo have proposed a civic reception be held to honour retiring Mayo TD Michael Ring and a 15 year old motorcycle champion, Brian O'Malley.

The proposals to host the civic reception for the two Westport natives was raised at the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District.

Former Minister for Community and Rural Development, Michael Ring is due to retire after the next general election after 45 years in politics while Murrisk teenager Brian O'Malley was recently crowned the youngest ever Irish Moto 400 champion.

Tributes were paid to Michael Ring by local councillors for his contribution to politics in the county and country after he announced in July that he was going to retire from active politics following the next general election.

Ring was first elected to public office in 1979 when he won a seat on Westport Urban District Court before being elected to Mayo County Council in 1991 and to Dáil Éireann in 1994 following a by-election. He held his Dáil seat at every election since then and became a member of the Cabinet in 2017 when Leo Varadkar appointed him Minister of Community and Rural Development.

Speculation is mounting that An Taoiseach Simon Harris will announce a general election for November and in light of this, Westport Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn suggested that a civic reception be held for Michael Ring in 2025.

“In light of the service he has given this county and country that I formally propose we give him a civic reception in this municipal district in 2025. It is important we recognise 45 years as service to this country be it as a town councillor, county councillor or TD and minister. We are very grateful to him,” said Cllr Flynn whose proposal was seconded by Fianna Fáil councillor Brendan Mulroy.

The meeting also heard tributes to Brian O'Malley following his triumph in the Irish Moto 400 championship which he won with two races to spare. Yamaha Racing UK announced that O'Malley will join its R7 charge, teaming up with Rev2Race Yamaha for the 2025 Pirelli National Sportbike Championship.

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Cllr Mulroy said that the Murrisk teenager is going to be a star of professional motorcycling and it was only right that the local council recognise his achievements.

“I am proposing a civic reception for him in Murrisk where he is from. I am sure in years to come Brian O'Malley's name will feature right across the world in relation to his sport. It is very hard to win an Irish title and it is nearly impossible to win one at 15 years of age against adults as old as 36 and 37 who are seasoned internationals. He won the championship two races early and we should be supportive of him at the start of his journey and not just at the end,” he said.