New Lord Mayor: ‘It’s very surreal’
The next Lord Mayor of Cork City has described his new role as a “deep honour” ahead of his official inauguration tomorrow, Friday.
Taking the wheel for the next 12 months at Cork City Hall will be Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy who was first elected to Cork City Council in June 2009.
Representing Cork City South-East, the Ballinlough native is also a historian, having written 29 books on Leeside history as well as contributing 24 years’ worth of his much-loved weekly column, Our City Our Town to the Cork Independent.
“It's really exciting and very surreal, I mean, it's one thing writing about history and it's another thing to end up in the books where your name is actually on the wall,” said the councillor.
He added: “It encompasses a lot of my interests, to get Cork pushing forward into the 21st century with the ambition and visions it has.
“I've researched the story of Cork Corporation and Cork City Council over many years, so I know how important the mayors way back in time were – the mayors of the 20th century.
“I'm also 14 years in the council chamber, so I've seen lord mayors come and go every year, so I'm aware of the history of the chain and the different people who wore it and the tragedies attached to the chain in terms of Tomás Mac Curtain and Terence McSweeney, but also all of the other lord mayors who had their own vision and ambition for the city to push everything forward.”
“I've been researching some of the quotes and speeches about giving your service for the people and the idea of self sacrifice and putting the city before yourself. They're quite inspiring.”
Meanwhile, incoming Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Frank O’Flynn, will don the golden chain from tomorrow onwards following Cork County Council’s Annual General Meeting.
The Fermoy representative and GAA advocate is the longest serving member of Fianna Fáil on Cork County Council having first been elected in 1999.
Cllr O’Flynn replaces outgoing County Mayor, Independent West Cork Cllr Danny Collins.