12 June 2024, Wednesday
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie
New Mayor of Clonakilty to be installed this Thursday
Eileen Sheppard, who topped the poll in last Saturday’s Clonakilty Mayoral Election, will be installed as “Mayor of Clonakilty” at a public ceremony at 7pm at Asna Square on this Thursday evening 13th January. All are invited to come along to witness the occasion.
PHOTO: Clon’s Five Mayors The five newly-elected Mayors of Clonakilty who will hold the title for one year each, starting on this Thursday evening (13th June), when a public ceremony at 7pm at Asna Square will see Eileen Sheppard, (left), installed for the coming 12 months. She will be followed in the rotation from left by Conan O’ Donovan, (2025-’26); Yousuf Janab Ali, (2026-’27); James White (2027-’28) and Anthony McDermott (2028-’29). (Photo: Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage PRO).
While there was much talk on the national media in recent weeks about Limerick being the “first place in Ireland to hold an election to directly-elect their Mayor”, here in Clonakilty, the third such election in ten years was held last Saturday!! 1,722 locals voted at Scoil na mBuachaillí on Saturday between 10am and 7pm, with nine non-political, community candidates on the ballot paper – Yousuf Janab Ali; Brendan Collins; Anna Groniecka, Chris Hinchy; Anthony McDermott; Evie Nevin; Conan O’Donovan; Eileen Sheppard and James White. 30 volunteers managed the ballot boxes and ensured voters received their voting papers throughout the day – under the supervision of Jerome JC O’ Sullivan and Tomás Tuipéar of the Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage Mayoral Sub Committee who organised the election and count process. On Sunday morning at 10am, the four ballot boxes were opened at O’Donovan’s Hotel and the count commenced. Jerome again ensured that everything was done and recorded correctly. The four volunteer counters – Donal O’Donovan, Marian Cadogan, Ger O’Driscoll and Ted Murphy, stayed on duty all day without a break. The ballot papers were sorted and the number ones for each candidate placed in their respective pigeon holes and trends immediately identified. Amazingly, just three ballot papers out of the total 1,722 were deemed invalid. Quota was 287. Throughout the day, the Mayoral Council Facebook page was updated with each count announcement videoed. The first count saw Eileen Sheppard receiving a huge first preference of 516, and Conan O’ Donovan getting 317, both being deemed elected. Yousuf Janab Ali was next with 241 and was elected on the fourth count, followed by James White on 172 who got the fourth seat on the fifth count when he exceeded the quota. The tension and excitement then went on for a few hours as just two votes separated Chris Hinchy and Anthony McDermott who polled 123 and 121 Number 1 votes respectively. The remaining three candidates conceded defeat after the announcement of the first count Brendan Collins (88), Anna Groniecka (75) and Evie Nevin (66). Chris and Anthony had to sweat it out for the final seat with Chris tantalisingly ahead of Anthony by a handful of votes until the sixth count when Anthony overtook Chris combined votes by just one – bringing his total to 228. It was now down to the wire with all the lower polling candidates eliminated. The tension was palpable as Jerome JC stepped forward to announce the seventh and final count. In the end, 10 votes separated the two outgoing mayors with Chris finishing on 232 and Anthony relived to be elected on 242 without reaching the quota and getting the last of the five seats! It was around 5.15pm when Jerome JC O’ Sullivan formally announced the successful candidates in order of election – Eileen Sheppard, Conan O’ Donovan, Yousuf Janab Ali, James White and Anthony McDermott. They will now become community “Mayor of Clonakilty” for one year each in order of their election. See the “Clonakilty Mayoral Council” Facebook page for videos and photos of the count. Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage were thanked for organising this the third Clonakilty Mayoral election since 2014 and they in turn thanked all the volunteers who helped out on polling day and at the count, principal, staff and Board of Management of Scoil na mBuachaillí, staff/management of O’ Donovan’s Hotel, everyone who went out to vote and the nine candidates who put their names on the ballot paper and their families who supported them.
The installation of Eileen Sheppard as new Mayor and Conan O’ Donovan as deputy Mayor for the next year will take place at a public ceremony at 7pm on this Thursday evening (13th June) at Asna Square, to which all are invited.
PHOTO: Jerome JC O’Sullivan, who oversaw the Clonakilty Mayoral Election on Saturday and was Returning Officer at the count on Sunday, closing down his laptop at the end of the count at O’Donovan’s Hotel. Like the previous two Mayoral Elections, (2014 and 2019), Jerome gave his time, vast experience and expertise in a totally voluntary capacity. (Photo: Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage PRO).
PHOTO: The four volunteers who counted the Clonakilty Mayoral Election votes at O’Donovan’s Hotel last Sunday from 10am to 5.15pm. Standing: Ger O’ Driscoll and Marian Cadogan. Seated: Donal O’ Donovan and Ted Murphy. (Photo: Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage PRO).