By Sarah Slater
A LARGE group of councillors passed on their best wishes to Carlow County Council’s head of finance Pat Delaney, who is retiring shortly.
Fine Gael councillor Michael Doran pointed out that Mr Delaney “is here working with the council for longer than I’m an elected member, and I’m elected 20 years here. Whether financial or otherwise, Pat was the man. A very sound man at the tiller and always has been. He’ll always give you an honest and balanced answer in everything in finance, arts and library as well”.
His party colleague cllr Brian O’Donoghue gave his best wishes to Mr Delaney. “He’s been a superb public servant and all the best in his retirement.”
Sinn Féin councillor John Cassin added that Mr Delaney has worked with the council for 26 years and dealt with 26 budgets. “A lot of budgets and a lot of pressure. Pat has done it (work) with grace and I wish Pat the very best in his retirement.”
Adding his name to congratulations to the retiring head of finance was Fine Gael’s councillor Tommy Kinsella, who described him as a “great man in whatever he is going to do in the future”, while Fianna Fáil councillor John McDonald wished him all the very best in his retirement.
Cllr Arthur McDonald added: “The two of us are probably around here the same length of time. We want to wish you well.
Fianna Fáil’s Ken Murnane quipped: “Pat Delaney is our Willie Mullins when it comes to finance. I want to wish Pat every success, health and happiness in the future. He has been a stalwart accountant for Carlow County Council.”
Party colleague Fintan Phelan continued: “We you have a big brief like finance, it could be easy to forget about the arts and culture side, but Pat never forgot. He did a huge amount of work in ensuring arts and culture flourished in Carlow and huge credit to him.”
Independent councillor Charlie Murphy said: “Pat was always very approachable.”
Cathaoirleach cllr Andrea Dalton (FF) said she would like to be associated with all the comments about Mr Delaney, concluding that he has done “phenomenal work each year presenting the budget”.
Cllr Dalton concluded: “Your passion and commitment to arts in Carlow has been second to none. You gave excellent financial guidance to us all at the council. So on behalf of myself and all the county councillors here, I would like to wish you a long, healthy and happy retirement. I’m sure you won’t be idle.”
