Michael McMahon.
THERE were tributes paid at the monthly meeting of Kerry County Council on Monday to Director of Planning and Sustainable Development, Michael McMahon, who retires at the end of the month.
His colleagues from the Council planning staff were also present to hear kind words and praise for a man who has given 40 years service to the local authority.
Mr McMahon joined Kerry County Council in 1975 as a Clerical Officer in the Machinery Yard, which was then situated in Ballymullen.
He progressed through various grades and worked in Finance, Rates, Fire Services, Sanitary Services, Environment, General Purposes and Planning. He was appointed Personnel Officer in 1995 and in 1996 was appointed Acting Finance Officer.
He was appointed Town Clerk of Tralee UDC in 1996 and was involved in major projects such as Fels Point, the Kerry Technology Park/ITT North Campus. He was appointed Director of Corporate Services and later appointed as Director of Planning, while also serving as Tralee Town Manager.
“There are few people who command the respect Michael has and his ability and knowledge has been invaluable to this Chamber and the county of Kerry,” said Mayor of Kerry, Cllr John Brassil at the meeting.
County Manager Moira Murrell also spoke of the loss he will be to the Council and of the pride he has in his hometown where he oversaw the implementation of so many transformative projects for Tralee.
Councillors were given a chance to pay tribute to the Tralee man with many saying his encyclopaedic knowledge and the advice he shared with them over the years were vital to them.
Speaking after the tributes, Mr McMahon had emotion in his voice as he addressed the Chamber.
“I’d like to thank all of you for your very kind words. I’m a great believer in democracy. The Council is criticised from time to time in what it does, but I’m a huge fan of local government and I have great respect for the elected members. I met some great characters in the Council over the years and I might write a book about them,” he said to – probably some nervous – laughter in the Chamber.
“Anybody is only as good as the staff they work with and I’ve been blessed to work with tremendous people. The Council has been very good to me, it’s been a great employer. It’s given me a wonderful career and the best thing it ever gave me was my wife [Anne] whom I met here 30 years ago,” he said.
Councillors and staff stood up and applauded Mr McMahon when he had finished speaking and all wished him well in his retirement.
