The Curious Case of the Mayo Librarian by Pat Walsh

Author:Pat Walsh [Walsh, Pat]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Europe, Ireland, 20th Century, Modern, History, Protestants, Librarians - Selection and Appointment - Ireland - Mayo (County) - History - 20th Century, Dunbar Harrison; Letitia, Protestants - Ireland - Mayo (County) - Social Conditions - 20th Century, Librarians, Church and State - Ireland - Mayo (County) - History - 20th Century, Church and State, Mayo (Ireland: County) - Officials and Employees - Selection and Appointment - History - 20th Century, Mayo (County), Religion in the Workplace, Religion in the Workplace - Ireland - Mayo (County) - History - 20th Century, Selection and Appointment, Mayo (Ireland : County)
ISBN: 9781856356152
Publisher: Mercier Press
Published: 2009-06-27T23:00:00+00:00

‘The hind legs of a cow’

Councillor Higgins declared that Councillor Mooney’s procedure was ‘as straight as the hind legs of a cow.’

‘Mr Higgins is playing to the gallery,’ replied Councillor Mooney. ‘I never play to the gallery.’

Councillor Reilly warned the meeting that the same fate would befall them as had happened in Mayo. The motion was carried with only Councillor Reilly dissenting.

‘A great landslide,’ declared Councillor McGowan.

A motion was then proposed congratulating Mayo County Council on the stand it took and condemning the Department of Local Government for abolishing it.

‘Someone will be congratulating us after this,’ Councillor Travers predicted to an outburst of laughter from the gallery.

‘The west’s awake,’ announced Councillor Connolly. ‘I support the resolution and I say it would be a lack on our part if we did not adopt it.’

Councillor Reilly said that he had always understood Mayo County Council to be able to mind its own business and there was no need for such a resolution.15 Councillor Connolly went on to maintain that the case of Mayo might be theirs tomorrow and he was glad to see Mayo, the founder of greater agitations, starting an agitation against something that was certainly very doubtful. The resolution was passed and the discussion ended. The bands then struck up outside.16

The government moved quickly to take steps to quell the rebellion in Leitrim, proving just as resolute as they had been in the Mayo instance. Within weeks the Leitrim Observer reported, ‘What is understood to be an ultimatum has been received from the Local Government Department, and intense interest is centred in the approaching duel between the Breffni County Council and the department.’17

‘Each member of the Leitrim County Council,’ wrote the Irish Independent, ‘had been directed by telegram to attend a special meeting of the council to consider a communication of a peremptory nature from the Local Government Department, directing them it is understood, to put the Public Libraries Act into force and proceed with the appointment of a librarian.’18

There were animated scenes at the special meeting held on Saturday, 24 January. The full text of a letter from the Local Government Department, which was signed by E.P. McCarron, was read into the minutes. The councillors were reminded that they had already levied a rate for the library service so they could not rescind the Public Libraries Act for the county. They were also told that they had no option but to accept the recommendation of the Local Appointments Commission.

At the meeting Councillor McGrath sounded almost nostalgic for the days of yore. He stated that, ‘In the days of the English, county councils had all powers in their hands. They were now like a lot of children going to school. They could not make a bog road for the accommodation of farmers.’

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