Sinn Féin representative hailed ‘big loss’ to Wicklow politics as councillors bid farewell

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Elected councillors within Wicklow County Council chambers have paid tribute to outgoing Bray West councillor Dermot O’Brien, who announced his intention to step down as a local representative after nearly seven years of dedicated service.

Addressing councillors, including Mr O’Brien, at the first full council meeting of the year, Cathaoirleach of the Bray Municipal District Erica Doyle thanked the outgoing councillor for work he has done in his term of office.

“It's a bittersweet day for us in Bray and indeed in Wicklow. I am delighted in one sense that I am in the chair to be able to lead the tribute to our colleague, Cllr Dermot O'Brien, who I think has been probably one of the biggest surprises to me personally and professionally during my time as an elected representative.

“Cllr O'Brien and I don't agree on a great many things but where we met was on all the things that we do agree on. And there's a great many of them. And I think it may have surprised both of us to realise that. If I had to use one word to describe Cllr O'Brien it would be integrity. There's no ego about the work that Cllr O'Brien does. And that is a very, very rare thing to find an in an elected representative.

“I am delighted Dermot is going to go onwards and upwards in his youth work where I think he will be invaluable, and I think now more than ever when we see the way the world is going, I think particularly young people and young men need people like Dermot O'Brien in their lives, so our loss is definitely their gain.”

His other colleagues in Bray followed suit with their tributes, with Cllr Joe Behan describing him as “a magnificent human being.

“His contributions at council meetings both here and in Bray have been beyond compare in my experience. The depth of his contribution, the depth of his analysis, of his thinking, and of his patient listening to other people's arguments. He's a model for any politician in any forum in the world as far as I am concerned.

“To my mind it is such a sad day for Wicklow that we're losing him. But it is a magnificent day for the young people of Ireland that he is going to be devoting his laser like focus on improving the service for young people right across this country. And I wish you every success, Dermot, and we'll miss you.”

Meanwhile Cllr Caroline Winstanley acknowledged his professionalism as he carried out his council duties.

“I feel that he is genuinely inclusive person. His approach consistently places people at the heart of decision-making. He is known for actively seeking out the views of others and listening with respect and valuing collaboration. Cllr O'Brien's work reminds us that good politics is ultimately about people, and I think his contribution will leave a long and lasting impact.”

Cllr Gail Dunne thanked him on behalf of Fianna Fáil, calling him well-informed and passionate.

“I think he's a major loss to the chamber, I really do. I rang him the other day and I said it to him that we need good people in the chamber, and we had a conversation saying how difficult it is to get people to stand for election in the first place, and then to go through the full term, and as you can see, we've lost two people over the past year. In the last council we lost a good few councillors as well, and people are not getting involved in politics.”

“Anybody I know in this room; they got involved in politics to help people. And certainly, Cllr O'Brien was that man. And I enjoyed his company.” he added.

Echoing his sentiments, Cllr Paul O’Brien, on behalf of the Labour Party, wished him well in his new endeavours.

“Cllr O’Brien and I agreed on a lot more than we disagreed on, even though that didn't come out in the chamber, our focus was driven by the same. If I was to described Cllr O'Brien in one word it would be decent, because is he a decent man. The new organisation you're going to is certainly a gain to them, but it is our loss and it is the people of Bray's loss as well.”

Lamenting the loss of yet another councillor in Bray from the Wicklow chamber, Cathaoirleach Melanie Corrigan commended Mr O’Brien for setting a shining example through his “integrity and compassion”.

"I want to thank you for being so honest, so accommodating and so hard-working, as chair of the Local Community Development Committee. I have always been able to rely on you for your commitment for turning up to the meetings, you have always been a great voice of reason within that committee. So, I will miss you. I will miss you terribly. Thank you for all the support that you have given me over the years, and for working so well together.”

Complimenting Mr O’Brien’s commitment to the cause, Cllr Lourda Scott said his contributions will be missed.

“We need more people of your calibre in the community, working in the chamber and community, not less than that. Your contributions to this chamber were incredibly thoughtful and put together. I don't think you know the meaning of the word waffle, again an unusual attribution in a politician.”

Following a string of glowing tributes from independent members in the chamber, Cllr Tom Fortune concluded by praising Mr O’Brien for “being everything a public representative should be”.

“Any time he contributes, it is articulate and very well thought through. He's moving on. The work he has done in youth is phenomenal. I did witness him, and the way he goes about that work is quite special. So, I have no doubt that what he's doing now is a tremendous move for himself as a person, for his career, and that he'll do a super job in it.”

“He will be a big loss to politics. As I said, I think he's probably in my view everything that a public rep should be, and he does his work and has done his work as a public representative in a very calculated and unemotional way. So, I'd like to wish him and his family nothing only the best.”

After Wicklow County Council chief executive Emer O’Gorman had eulogised about his “passion and respect” in how he carries out his work, the departing councillor was invited to speak one last time.

“I hope I leave here without anyone feeling I was their enemy on any side the chamber,” he said. “I think you can make friends with other politicians that aren't in your party, and I think that's not a bad message to send out to the world.

"And I think you can be in conflict and that can generate things. And if your approach to that is generative, that good things can come from disagreement then we're in a good space. What an honour for anyone and their family to be selected by my party to stand in an election and be elected by the people, to sit here and represent them is an honour that stays with you.”

After a rapturous applause, Mr O’Brien was joined by his colleagues in the centre of the chamber for a photograph, followed by the presentation of a wooden bowl and a treasured memento in the shape of his council nameplate, or as Cllr Fortune remarked, his ‘Toblerone’.