Fourteen-year wait ends

Fourteen-year wait ends for Cllr Keane

WESTPORT
Neill O’Neill

WHILE being named Cathaoirleach of your council is the greatest honour that can be bestowed on any town councillor, it’s doubtful that receiving the chain of office ever meant more to an individual than it did to Cllr Martin Keane in Westport last week.
After 14 years serving the people of Westport, he finally sat in the Chairman’s seat at 6.50pm last Wednesday evening, after he was named Cathaoirleach for the last year of the current Council by six votes to three.
Having been proposed by Sinn Féin councillor, Dave Keating, and seconded by Labour’s Keith Martin, Cllr Keane – an Independent – was also voted in by Fianna Fáil councillors Margaret Adams, Brendan Mulroy and Declan Dever. Councillor Tereasa McGuire had proposed outgoing Leas-Chathaoirleach, Fine Gael’s Myles Staunton, for the job, and this was seconded by Cllr Peter Flynn. However, it quickly became apparent that the night would belong to Martin Keane.
With the chain of office finally around his neck, a highly emotional Cllr Keane broke down momentarily as he wished his late mother was around to witness the moment.
A man who has been through rougher times than many people will ever know, he then spoke of how he had come back from the brink thanks to the people of Westport, and was determined to now pay them back.
“You have to be at the bottom before you can get to the top,” he said, “and tonight I am where I always wanted to be. I love this town and this Council and will serve the people to the best of my ability. What is past is past for me, and now I am in the present. If I kept going the way I was going I wouldn’t be here now, and I thank you all for helping me to rise to the top.”
After thanking everyone who had made his dream come true and assuring those that did not vote for him that they would be treated no different than those who did, Cllr Keane pledged to work with all associations and organisations in the town and to continue to place a special emphasis on his work with the youth and the elderly.
His fellow councillors then paid tribute to him, led by a gracious-in-defeat Cllr Myles Staunton, who told him ‘today is the first day of the rest of your life’.
“I put my name forward and was willing to give my services to the town, but you are a special person and your contribution to Westport has been second to none. Tonight, democracy has worked, and I sincerely and genuinely congratulate you and want you to know that I will help you in any way I can,” he said.
Councillors Teresa McGuire and Peter Flynn also congratulated Cllr Keane and stated their support for him, while Cllr Dave Keating said he was excited to see him as Cathaoirleach – a sentiment echoed by Cllr Keith Martin. Councillor Declan Dever reminded him that they started on Westport Town Council on the same day and said he deserved to be Cathaoirleach for all the hard work he had done over the years.