’Over the moon’

FAMILY SUPPORT Cllr Kevin Guthrie pictured with his daughter Aisling on the left and his wife Kathleen, following his election as Mayor of Castlebar.

New Mayor Guthrie is ‘over the moon’

Castlebar
Áine Ryan

DESPITE the fact that the Lotto was on a roll-over to €17 million on Wednesday night last (June 25), newly-elected Fine Gael Mayor of Castlebar Town Council, Kevin Guthrie, said he was so ‘over the moon’ he wouldn’t care if he won it. He told the meeting that during his 13-year sojourn as an emigrant not one day had passed when he didn’t reflect on his home town. He also observed that priorities during his term of office will include the installation of a public toilet in the county town and the restoration of its river.
“Castlebar is the finest town in Ireland, it is a progressing town. It’s a full-time job being a councillor, representing the people that are not able to represent themselves,” said Mayor Guthrie.
“As a county town, it is a disgrace that we don’t have public toilets. For one reason, I suffer from a disease and need the toilet quickly. There are pregnant women out there and people with prostate cancer who also need such a facility. The cost shouldn’t come into it,” he continued.
Minutes earlier, Mayor Guthrie – whose two uncles had served on the Council – was proposed by party colleague, Cllr Brendan Henaghan, the first to extol his colleague’s passion and commitment. 
“It is my privilege tonight to nominate my Fine Gael colleague, Cllr Kevin Guthrie – who has been a councilor in this chamber since 2004. He is one of the most vociferous and passionate councillors and will do the Chair proud both inside and outside the chamber,” said Cllr Henaghan.
Seconding the proposal, Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Aidan Crowley reiterated the fact that Mayor Guthrie was ‘a very passionate councillor who was always forthright, even if what he said was sometimes unpopular’.
Mayor Guthrie was elected by seven votes to two, after Cllr Michael Kilcoyne proposed Sinn Féin’s Cllr Noel Campbell.
“Over the lifetime of this Council deliberate attempts have been made to keep myself and indeed Cllr Kilcoyne from the positions of Mayor and Deputy Mayor. This will not silence me nor will it silence the people who voted for me. I want to thank Councillor Kilcoyne for his proposal and in doing so I also want to acknowledge the work of Mayor McCormack and his Deputy Mayor, Cllr Guthrie, over the past 12 months,” said Cllr Campbell.
He also observed that such attempts were ‘a black mark on the record of an otherwise good council’.
In his acceptance speech, Mayor Guthrie immediately addressed Cllr Campbell’s comments.
“I was delighted when Noel’s name was put forward. Everybody in this chamber has a right to this chair. If I’m elected back to the next council I will have no problem supporting you,” said Mayor Guthrie.
Welcoming Mayor Guthrie’s appointment, Cllr Aidan Crowley said he was particularly impressed by ‘the non-partisan comments he made regarding the possibility of Cllr Campbell being elected mayor in the future. This sets the tone for the year’.
Proposing Cllr Blackie Gavin as Deputy Mayor, Cllr Sean Bourke – who was welcomed back to the chamber after an absence due to illness – noted that the long-time councillor had been mayor on three occasions and deputy mayor on four.
He was also elected by seven votes to two after Cllr Noel Campbell proposed Cllr Michael Kilcoyne.
“I’ll second that. I can’t think of anybody better to do it!” said Cllr Kilcoyne.