Outgoing council chair "as good as a wine"

New Cathaoirleach of Tullamore Town Council Sinead Dooley compared outgoing Cathaoirleach Molly Buckley to a wine at the council's AGM on Thursday evening last. "You're as good as a wine; you get better every year," Cllr Dooley said, praising Cllr Buckley for her performance as Cathaoirleach of the council during a very busy year. Cllr Dooley's compliment was just one amongst many as Cllr Buckley took the chains of office off for the last time this year. Leaving her tenure as Cathaoirleach Cllr Buckley paid tribute to council staff and councillors alike, saying they had had "a good year in spite of financial constraints". Looking back over her year Cllr Buckley spotlighted significant anniversaries for local groups including Junior Chamber, Comhaltas, the Professional and Businesswomen's Network, O'Molloy Street and Tullamore Show. The council itself also celebrated a milestone anniversary, when it reached the grand old age of 150 last September. Cllr Buckley also mentioned Tullamore town reaching a "Clean to European Norms" in the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) league, helped by both the local credit union and the Tidy Towns committee. As part of this drive fellow councillor Tommy McKeigue visited local schools. Cllr Buckley suggested visits of this kind be retained in future, to let young people know a little more about local government. Cllr Buckley also paid tribute to the Joint Policing Committee, which helps to make Tullamore safe. Perhaps her main tribute however went to local voluntary organisations, which were celebrated at a recent volunteer recognition night. Without these groups, Cllr Buckley said Tullamore wouldn't be as good a place to live as it is. Cllr Buckley also mentioned projects yet to be completed, namely Tullamore's Arts Centre and a revamped Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre. The main concern going forward, she said, is jobs. She said businesses need to be supported, and suggested local rents being decreased as well as introducing free ten minute parking in the town. Ending her short monologue, Cllr Buckley said it her fellow councillors had made it easy to chair meetings, and she hoped they could continue to work in partnership for the town into the future.