Laois councillor bows out after 17 years
Pádraig with elected members, council management, family and friends
HAVING served on Laois Co Council for over 17 years, the most recent meeting of the council saw the retirement of Cllr Padraig Fleming.
The Fianna Fáil councillor was first elected in 2009 to the Luggacurran area and subsequently moved in 2014 to the Graigecullen/Portarlington municipal district area.
The March monthly council meeting was Cllr Fleming’s last and tributes were heard across the chamber from elected members, management, friends and supporters. Cllr Fleming's wife Catherine and daughters Avril and Rachel were present, as well as his grandchildren. His daughter Stephanie joined remotely from Australia. The extended Fleming family were also present, including his brother Sean, TD.
To commemorate his years of service, members of the council presented Cllr Fleming with a framed photo, flowers and a book of well wishes; presentations were also made by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the technical group of councillors.
Cathaoirleach of the council, Cllr Barry Walsh, praised Padraig’s years of service and dedication as a public servant. He said: “We gather here today to mark a significant moment in the history of this chamber as we bid a formal farewell to a colleague and friend who has been a cornerstone of Laois Co Council for almost 17 years, Cllr Padraig Fleming. Padraig’s name is synonymous with public service in Co Laois, having followed in the footsteps of a proud family tradition. You have been a true gentleman in every sense â always inoffensive, approachable and ready with practical advice for anyone who sought it.
Councillor Fleming took centre stage and delivered a speech and was full of gratitude for the public and praise for how far Laois had come since his appointment to the role – advancements that were the combined and collective effort of councillors, the staff of LCC and the wider public. He said: “It is hard to believe that almost 17 years have passed since I first walked into this chamber in 2009. It has gone in the blink of an eye. In that time, I have had the privilege of watching Laois be transformed from the development of our town centres, the growth of local enterprise, expansion of community facilities and the preservation of our heritage. To the people of Luggacurren and Graigecullen/Portarlington, I would like to say a heartfelt thank you.You put your trust in me in the ballot box four times. Whether we met on the doorstep or at a community hall meeting, your passion for our county is what kept me going.” He concluded by thanking his wife Catherine and daughters Avril, Rachel and Stephanie and the extended Fleming family.
“It was an honour and a privilege to work with and for the people of Laois. I have enjoyed every moment of it. I leave this chapter with a heavy heart, but a very proud one. Laois is a county with a great spirit and a bright future. I wish my successor the best of luck in the years ahead.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
