Mayorship denied to SF in Clonakilty

Cllr. Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin stands locked outside Clonakilty Town Hall after the Mayoral Election, holding a copy of the agreement that was shredded by the very people who drew it up - Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael

One of the most divisive annual meetings of Clonakilty Town Council in recent decades took place last week, which saw Sinn Féin "stabbed in the back" by a Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition, which ensured that the outgoing independent mayor was returned for a second year in office — the first time this has happened in Clonakilty since the mid 1950s.

Last year, Sinn Féin Councillor Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin topped the poll for the second consecutive election and the party also gained a second seat with the election of Paul Hayes. Sinn Féin now has the same number of seats on the council as FF and FG. Three independent councillors make up the nine seats. After last year's election, an agreement to rotate the Mayorship and Deputy Mayorship was agreed by all councillors.

Councillor Ó Súilleabháin was elected Deputy Mayor and was to be Mayor in 2005-'06.

However, at last week's AGM, the agreement was effectively shredded by the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors, who ensured that the sitting Mayor Phil O'Regan was returned.

Ó Súilleabháin was proposed and seconded by Independents Councillor Michael O'Regan and Anthony McDermott respectively, and supported by party colleague Paul Hayes.

The opposition used Ó Súilleabháin's speech at the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis, where he supported a motion calling for the release of the Castlerea prisoners, as an excuse that neither he nor Sinn Féin were fit for office.

Ó Súilleabháin produced a copy of the Good Friday Agreement in the chamber and quoted the section of prisoner releases, stunning the Fianna Fáilers and Fine Gaelers to silence.

He said after the meeting: "This was a classic case of McDowellism and DUPism here in Clonakilty. The mantra of the establishment parties here is no different to the unionists North and South — keep Sinn Féin down and out at all costs.

The Gárda McCabe issue was a complete red herring. It's Sinn Féin they're afraid of — our popularity amongst the ordinary people and our capacity for work on the ground on behalf of constituents."

On local radio the following day, over 200 calls were made in support of having a Sinn Féin mayor in Clonakilty, many from people who clearly stated they weren't Sinn Féin supporters.