EDITORIAL: Change means you lose a dedicated public servant but gain new blood

The political landscape in Tipperary took another sharp shift this week as Fine Gael councillor of 44 years, Michael Fitzgerald, announced he will not contest the next Local Election.

Cllr Fitzgerald first took his seat in 1979, following in his father’s footsteps. In this edition, you can read his touching statement on his long career, for which he should be proud.

He is of course not the first and may not be the last stalwart of Tipperary politics to bow out before next year’s Local Elections.

In May this year, Thurles’ Cllr Seamus Hanafin announced he will not run again in 2024.

He too had a long career in the local authority, sitting for 20 years and following his family’s lead.

But change is an odd thing. You may lose a dedicated public servant but gain new blood.

New people bring different perspectives to old problems, and they too can make a difference.

There will be many who say that councillors do not matter because they don’t make decisions at a national level.

But that is not so.

Councillors are one of the most important ways communities can access local government. They provide information not easily accessible to the public, and they make those higher up aware of the problems their constituents face.

Anyone who attends plenary or district meetings hears the impassioned speeches, motions and discussions.

Those meetings lead to decisions about council rents, infrastructure planning and funding of community groups like Tidy Towns.

Some of the upcoming candidates come from backgrounds in activism, the environment and community work. Experiences like these will be invaluable for the growth and development of the county.

We thank Cllr Fitzgerald and all those who have given so much of their time.

We look forward to keeping you, the readers, informed on all things Local Election 2024.

It won’t be the same, but it will certainly be interesting.