Cavan town charter missing

Cavan Town Council is months away from celebrating the fact that it is one of the oldest municipal centres in Ireland but its unique charter has gone missing, according to Fine Gael Councillor Terry Argue. At the monthly meeting in the Town Hall on Monday night, the chairman Paddy O’Reilly (FG) revealed to the members that Cavan Town will be 400 years in existence next year and he suggested that the body should initiate immediate plans to mark this significant and historic event. However Cllr. Argue then made the startling revelation to the meeting that the unique Town Charter had gone missing. “If we can’t locate it, there are ways and means of ascertaining where it disappeared to. It should be here - it is the property of Cavan Town Council. I just can’t understand how it disappeared,” he said. Cllr. Argue added: “I recall seeing it on a couple of occasions. It was most impressive and was in a large frame.” He said that if it does not turn up shortly, he will be reporting the matter to the Garda Superintendent in Cavan with a view to investigating where it went. The chairman Paddy O’Reilly urged the local press to highlight the issue. “Maybe someone has it in their attic,” he suggested. This was greeted by laughter in the chamber. Reward offered Speaking to The Anglo-Celt after the meeting, Cllr. O’Reilly said he is prepared to put up a substantial reward for the return of the charter to the town council. Reading from a newsletter from the AMAI earlier, Cllr. O’Reilly noted that Skibereen is celebrating 150 years, Carrick-on-Suir 175 years in existence, but Cavan tops them all being 400 years on the go. Cllr. O’Reilly said he was throwing out to the meeting with a view that members could formulate ideas as to how best to celebrate this momentous historic occasion and bring them to a future meeting for discussion.