In Clonmel, we have witnessed first hand how career politicians spout waffle, spin and generally try to deflect from issues they claim to know nothing about, but as time goes on, that rhetoric doesn't age well, and as we have seen with the former mayor Ritchie Molloy, it can be embarrassing,
Lets go back to February 2024, when the news broke of the modular home site to be constructed on the Heywood road, Clonmel,. None of the towns councilors or the then mayor, Ritchie Molloy would speak of it, the only one who did, was a sitting TD Mr Mattie McGrath. Over the next couple of weeks Mr McGrath updated the people of the town with any info in relation to the site that was available. This resulted in local amateur journalists and other known personalities accusing mattie of spreading fear and misinformation. And as we have seen, Mr McGraths information was completely accurate.
But lets focus on the former mayor, and his conduct during this timeline of events, it was complete silence from him, until it drew closer to the local election time, near the end of April when he had this to say,. and it was near the end of May when he knew he would have to be out canvassing and it would be an unavoidable question,. he was asked on to the local radio, Tipp Fm as a local election candidate. which you can listen to here listen to it from 3 minutes 25 seconds onward.
It is important to remember, the contractor to the site had begun works in April, and it was obvious to all the local residents in the area what was taking place there, what's interesting is that when any of the local councilors had been asked about any info on the site, their answer was to simply say "it is out of the control of the local council, that it was with a higher authority" and there was nothing they could do. But, yet, as the local election time drew closer by some form of magic, the work stopped, for almost a month, from mid may to the 2nd week in June. Just around the time all the local politicians and councilors would be out knocking on doors, and for the results to be tallied and completed, what a coincidence!
By now it was mid June, and protests had been ongoing on the area, by locals who had never been consulted, who had not been represented or who had concerns for the values of their property, the safety of the area, or the safety of their children. all valid concerns, which no local politician wanted to answer. indeed, Mr Molloy stated there would be a public consultation should the site "go ahead",. it is now the 11th of August, we are still waiting.. the builder did throw together an information evening in the talbot hotel, but it had no one with badges, no one speaking and no real organization or layout, you'd see better info and organization at local car boot sales!
But, in more recent weeks Mr Molloy has become more vocal with his "concerns" have a read. It is amazing stuff really. Talk about closing the barn door after the horse has bolted,..
What we have seen from this development, is the contempt shown by the local government and its officials, be them councillors or mayors, to the tax paying public of the area and the wider clonmel community. Which is a pure disgrace.
This is local government, these are local politicians,. and we will hold them to account. after all, it is the reason they are put where they are by the people, to represent those people, not misrepresent and misinform. and we urge all the people of the town of clonmel to do the Same.
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