Cathaoirleachs Introduction
This was certainly the highlight of my career in local politics, and my first duty as Cathaoirleach was to express sincere gratitude to members of my family and my constituents for their loyalty and support over the years.
In many ways 2004 marked the end of an era for this Council, as a number of familiar faces left local politics after many years dedicated service. Between them Councillors Joe Cawley, Leo Conlon and Michael ‘Boxer’ Conlon had given over 90 years service to the people of Sligo, and they can be proud of their contribution to the development of this county. Nine Councillors have been newly elected to the Council, and I look forward to working with them in the years ahead to work for the people of Sligo.
Throughout my term I had the privilege of welcoming many people to County Hall. When any person or group excels in their particular field of endeavour, I feel that by hosting a reception in their honour I can publicly convey, on behalf of the Council, my appreciation for their particular achievement. One the groups I hosted in County Hall were the County Ladies Football Team, and as a lifelong supporter I was delighted to honour their many successes.
Sligo County Council is one of the largest employers in the Northwest, and is served by a very loyal and committed staff. At the end of last year, I hosted a lunch for all the staff in the Area offices as a token of my appreciation for their dedicated work on behalf of the people of Sligo.
One of my ambitions as Cathaoirleach is to ensure that County Sligo capitalises on its status as ‘Gateway for Growth’ under the National Spatial Strategy. If this region is to develop to its full potential, it is essential that the proper infrastructure is in place. Sligo County Council has always taken an active role in encouraging and promoting sustainable development for the Northwest, and we will work with any agency interested in the future growth of County Sligo.
Councillor Margaret Gormley
Cathaoirleach
