Leitrim is a very special place - Lar Power says emotional farewell at final Council meeting

Councillors did not hold back when they wished outgoing Chief Executive Lar Power attended his final meeting of Leitrim County Council this month before he takes up a new role in Kilkenny County Council.
Cllr Enda McGloin congratulated Mr Power on being appointed chief executive at Kilkenny County Council and said that he felt Mr Power had “brought the county on” in the past five and a half years.
“We've had a terrific investment programme that members and the executive have embraced and funding from CLÁR , RRDF and URDF, to name a few,” he said.
He added that from Carrick-on- Shannon to Manorhamilton, “you can see the imprint of those investments.”
He said the “fabric of the county has been strengthened because of tourism offerings and the development of blueways, greenways, walkways and facilities across the board have enhanced life in Leitrim.
“I think that Lar Power can justifiably say that he played a key role in that along with his executive team,” Cllr McGloin added.
He wished Mr Power well in his new role and thanked him for his “great input” over the last five and a half years, adding that Kilkenny will benefit from Leitrim's loss.
Cllr Enda Stenson described Mr Power as a breath of fresh air and said that he got on “so well with everyone here” and praised him for his work regarding the new sports campus in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Cllr Stenson also wished Mr Power and his family the best of luck in Kilkenny and told him that they “were lucky to get a man of your calibre.”
Cllr Sean McGowan also wished him well and said he was a “huge loss and has done tremendous work here since he came in early 2018” and was instrumental in the setting up of the capital office through which “the public realm works done Carrick-on-Shannon and Manorhamilton were carried out and progress was made Mohill as well.”
Cllr Mary Bohan also wished Mr Power well and said the councillors were “sorry to see you go” and said that he had “a way about you that people liked very much.”
She added that all the councillors had “trust and confidence” in him and that he brought a wealth of experience to the role.
She also praised him for meeting with councillors on his arrival at Leitrim County Council and taking an interest in the various areas from the outset.
Cllr Felim Gurn noted that Mr Power arrived “in the middle of Covid” and described as a “sociable and approachable person” with Cllr Gerry Dolan saying he was “very approachable.”
Cllr Padraig Fallon said he was a “breath of fresh air in that we all knew we could talk to you” and “you did your best and were solution driven.”
Cllr Brendan Barry thanked Mr Power for all his work that “will be coming to fruition in the years to come so we are gaining all the time from what you have done here already.”
Cllr Sean McDermott said that Mr Power's ambition was to “make Leitrim a better place to live, work and enjoy and I think you achieved that in abundance and your fingerprints are over a serious amount of money that came into this county in the last five years.”
Cllr Ita Reynolds-Flynn said he was “very easy to talk to” and “would always come back to you” and said the project that he set in motion is "now paying off big time.”
Cllr Thomas Mulligan said that Mr Power “set his sights so high and encouraged us to raise our sights and those results are now showing” while Cllr Finola Armstrong-McGuire said that he worked with her and “the people that I represent very well” and said he “answered the phone straight away and any issues I had, his door was always open.”
Joseph Gilhooly, who has been appointed as the interim Chief Executive of Leitrim County Council, said that Mr Power had “a genuine interest in the wellbeing of the staff and the importance of staff coming to work happy.”
Cathaoirleach Cllr Justin Warnock thanked Mr Power for his support over the last number of months since becoming Cathaoirleach and called him a “gentleman.”
Mr Power shed a tear as he spoke about his gratitude for the “kind words” by the councillors and commended them on their “professionalism, partnership and good work.”
He added, “Leitrim is a very special place and I will be back.”