Fianna Fáil Councillor Peter Considine was last night unanimously elected Mayor of Ennis at the Annual General Meeting of Ennis Town Council.
Councillor Considine has held the position of Mayor on six previous occasions during his lengthy career as a public representative; June 1983 - June 1984, July 1989 - July 1990, July 1993 - June 1994, June 1999 - June 2000, July 2002 - July 2003, and June 2008 - June 2009. The new Mayor also served as a member of Clare County Council from 1994 to 2009.
Also at last night’s AGM, Cllr. Tommy Brennan was elected Deputy Mayor, while Cllr. Paul O Shea was elected Chairperson of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC).
Mayor Considine paid tribute to his predecessor, Councillor Michael Guilfoyle, and said he looked forward to many new projects and developments for Ennis during his year-long term of office.
Mr. Considine commented: “There are numerous infrastructure projects that I am keen to see being progressed over the next 12 months. They include the completion of the Ennis Inner Relief Road from Station Road to Clare Road, the construction of a Multi-Use Games Area at Tim Smyth Park, and the provision of a new Coach Park at Friars Walk designed to boost coach tourism in the County Capital.
“There also are a number of community initiatives and cultural projects that I look forward to supporting. As Mayor I will be supporting and nurturing the continued partnership with the business community in developing and promoting the town as a place to live in, work in and visit,” he explained.
Mayor Considine continued: “The Gathering Events during 2013, including a larger than ever Fleadh Nua and the Love Live Music event, are a welcome addition to the annual events calendar. Furthermore, I look forward to the proposed upgrading of the Visit Ennis Website and continued marketing of the town through Promote Ennis. I also am confident that Ennis’ strong performance in the Tidy Towns competition will continue this year when results in the autumn will once again reflect the positive working partnership between community volunteers and Ennis Town Council.”
“From a business perspective, I eagerly await the launch and subsequent implementation of Ennis Hub Strategy – Ennis 2020. It is expected that this blueprint will result in the progression of prioritised strategic projects for Ennis. I also will be pledging my support to the discernment process (pathfinder process) for the designation of Ennis as a Purple Flag location, a safe area with a quality mix of retail, cultural, historical and entertainment offerings to customers and visitors,” he added.
Mayor Considine stated: “I am mindful that these are challenging financial times for all of us. Ennis Town Council’s income has reduced significantly in recent years and staffing levels have reduced by approximately 20%. It is important that expectations are realistic in terms of the services and projects that the Council can deliver.”
Meanwhile, commenting on Minister Phil Hogan’s anticipated announcement on the future of Town Councils around Ireland late this summer, Mayor Considine said: “I hope and expect that Ennis Town Council will continue to play a leading role in the management and development of Ennis town.”
Councillor Considine has held the position of Mayor on six previous occasions during his lengthy career as a public representative; June 1983 - June 1984, July 1989 - July 1990, July 1993 - June 1994, June 1999 - June 2000, July 2002 - July 2003, and June 2008 - June 2009. The new Mayor also served as a member of Clare County Council from 1994 to 2009.
Also at last night’s AGM, Cllr. Tommy Brennan was elected Deputy Mayor, while Cllr. Paul O Shea was elected Chairperson of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC).
Mayor Considine paid tribute to his predecessor, Councillor Michael Guilfoyle, and said he looked forward to many new projects and developments for Ennis during his year-long term of office.
Mr. Considine commented: “There are numerous infrastructure projects that I am keen to see being progressed over the next 12 months. They include the completion of the Ennis Inner Relief Road from Station Road to Clare Road, the construction of a Multi-Use Games Area at Tim Smyth Park, and the provision of a new Coach Park at Friars Walk designed to boost coach tourism in the County Capital.
“There also are a number of community initiatives and cultural projects that I look forward to supporting. As Mayor I will be supporting and nurturing the continued partnership with the business community in developing and promoting the town as a place to live in, work in and visit,” he explained.
Mayor Considine continued: “The Gathering Events during 2013, including a larger than ever Fleadh Nua and the Love Live Music event, are a welcome addition to the annual events calendar. Furthermore, I look forward to the proposed upgrading of the Visit Ennis Website and continued marketing of the town through Promote Ennis. I also am confident that Ennis’ strong performance in the Tidy Towns competition will continue this year when results in the autumn will once again reflect the positive working partnership between community volunteers and Ennis Town Council.”
“From a business perspective, I eagerly await the launch and subsequent implementation of Ennis Hub Strategy – Ennis 2020. It is expected that this blueprint will result in the progression of prioritised strategic projects for Ennis. I also will be pledging my support to the discernment process (pathfinder process) for the designation of Ennis as a Purple Flag location, a safe area with a quality mix of retail, cultural, historical and entertainment offerings to customers and visitors,” he added.
Mayor Considine stated: “I am mindful that these are challenging financial times for all of us. Ennis Town Council’s income has reduced significantly in recent years and staffing levels have reduced by approximately 20%. It is important that expectations are realistic in terms of the services and projects that the Council can deliver.”
Meanwhile, commenting on Minister Phil Hogan’s anticipated announcement on the future of Town Councils around Ireland late this summer, Mayor Considine said: “I hope and expect that Ennis Town Council will continue to play a leading role in the management and development of Ennis town.”
