Larkin offers to pass up mayoral chain

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Deliberations over who will take the mayoral chain of office later today (Friday) went down to the wire last evening as the ruling ‘rainbow’ pact in City Hall met to agree on who they would propose as First Citizen – with Noel Larkin offering to make way for an alternative nomination.

Under an agreement reached by the 10-member pact, formed after May 2019’s local elections, Cllr Larkin (Ind) was due to take the office for the next 12 months. However, controversy arose in recent weeks over comments the City East councillor made in relation to the Traveller Community.

An online petition to oppose Cllr Larkin’s election as mayor has gathered almost 1,500 signatories, sparking some division among members of the pact who voiced concerns about backing his nomination.

The Galway City Tribune understands that Social Democrats councillor Owen Hanley was due to abstain from the vote – which would have seen Cllr Larkin elected by a majority of just one vote.

However, Cllr Hanley confirmed yesterday that “I will be voting with the pact”.

Negotiations within the pact, which is made up of six Independent councillors, two Greens, along with the Labour and Social Democrats councillors, have led to alternative proposals coming forward.

At yesterday evening’s meeting, consideration was to be given to proceeding with Cllr Larkin’s nomination; proposing the incumbent Mayor Mike Cubbard (Ind) for a second term; or proposing another pact member.

It is understood that Mayor Cubbard remaining in office is the most likely outcome.

Speaking to the Galway City Tribune before the meeting, Cllr Larkin said that Mayor Cubbard had a “torrid” time as Mayor, with many engagements in the second half of his one-year term cancelled as a result of Covid-19 restrictions.

Confirming that he was “not against the idea of standing aside”, Cllr Larkin said he would follow the wishes of the pact.
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