Below is my maiden speech at my first Council meeting in the Council chamber on 15 June 2009, 7.30p.m.

“It’s a tremendous honour and privilege to be here as a Councillor.

I would like to congratulate the Lord Mayor, Cllr. Brian Bermingham on your promotion of local heritage, for your colour, creativity and imagination increasing the sense of pride, place, identity and traditions of the city.

I’m aware that I’m here on the vote of confidence of constituents – people of my ward voted me in – with that in mind the people must continue to be looked after and reached out to especially in these harsh economic times.

We live in difficult times; we now as a Council need not only to think about the future stability of this beautiful city but also bring the city forward in the next five years, in the next ten years.

I look forward to working with Council members over the next five years. Thank you”.

Cllr. Brian Bermingham outlined a summary of his programme for the year, events which were noteworthy and I praise his contribution to the Lord Mayor’s office. I especially applaud the educational strategy he adapted for young people, who are the lifeblood of the city;

Selection of Cllr. Brian Bermingham’s programmes:

• Awakening of Cork’s heritage
• Promotion of civic responsibility
• Creation of Lord Mayor’s website
• Meeting with the Lord Mayor of Belfast
• Visiting Omagh for the tenth anniversary
• Launch of Bus Wednesday
• Connecting together of local history groups
• Maintaining and expansion of Council services
• Promotion of Cork Schools’ Music Project
• Promotion of Discover Cork: Schools’ Heritage Project (City Edition)