‘We work together’ - councillor irate at not getting invitation to school event

Elected representatives from all parties, not just some, should be present when official opening events take place in the local area, Sinn Féin councillor Bronagh McAree stated at the February meeting of the Monaghan Municipal District.

Cllr McAree expressed unhappiness that FF and FG politicians were present at what appeared to be an official opening event at a school in the Tydavnet area when Minister for Education Norma Foley TD visited County Monaghan recently. SF representatives received no notification or invitation in relation to this, she said.

Cllr McAree requested that all MD elected members receive invitations when the official opening of the new Ballinode Community Centre takes place.

“This is a precedent I would not like to see continue,” she stated. “We work together for the good of the community.”

Cllr Pauric Clerkin (FG) said he wanted to know what opening took place in Tydavnet that SF were not invited to. There was no official opening, only a meeting with the school board of management, he said.

Cllr Raymond Aughey said he was not at this event either.

Cllr McAree said she had seen pictures in the media of the Minister cutting a ribbon at a classroom with FG and FF politicians present. She assumed it was the official opening of the classroom but maybe it was just a photo opportunity.

Municipal District Director Patricia Monahan said Ballinode Community Centre was one of a number of projects in the county funded through schemes such as Town and Village Renewal, CLÁR and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme operated by the Department of Rural and Community Development. Every year the Minister of the Department came to the county to perform official openings of these projects and she expected this will happen again in 2026 but is dependent on the Minister’s schedule.

“We will invite all members from all parties when we are made aware of the dates,” Ms Monahan stated.