Senior official with Cork County Council praises councillors for their hard work

Ms Barr was speaking at the last MD meeting of the council term. The upcoming local elections will usher in a new term for the nine newly elected councillors.

Ms Barr took the opportunity to wish the councillors all the very best in the forthcoming elections. “In the past 18 months I have gotten to know each of you and I am genuinely hoping all of you will be back. I have witnessed your dedication to our MD meetings where party affiliations are set aside and the wellbeing of our community takes precedence and has been truly inspiring,” she said.

"It has been an immense honour to work alongside such distinguished individuals,” said Ms Barr. “Your mutual respect and camaraderie serves as a beacon of hope in a world rife with blame and division. Kanturk/Mallow MD has been extremely lucky to have had nine hard working councillors that gave it their all in the last five years. Your unwavering honesty, integrity and moral compass are unparalleled. I have always endeavoured to address the challenges to the best of my ability. I can’t even start to imagine this job without each of you beside me.”

Ms Barr also paid tribute to the late councillor Gerard Murphy. “I was extremely sad to lose Cllr Murphy recently. He was the grandad of our group, whose knowledge was mind-blowing. He showed us to always be respectful. He always got that little one-liner in to show us that Newmarket was where his heart was.”

Fianna Fáil councillor Ian Doyle who served as the chair of the MD for the last 12 months thanked all the council staff for their 'fantastic’ work. “This is our last MD meeting of the year and also of this current council. As chair I would like to compliment everybody and particularly the council staff on the work they have done.

“To each and every member of Cork County Council staff in our area offices, both in Newmarket and Charleville, the amount of work that is being done has been fantastic. On behalf of us all, thank you very much,” he added.

Cllr Doyle concluded his speech by wishing his fellow councillors well in the forthcoming elections on Friday, June 7. “To my fellow councillors I would like to wish you all well in the upcoming elections.”