New Tipperary Senator receives flowers and congratulations from former council colleagues

Senator Imelda Goldsboro was presented with a bouquet of flowers by her former councillor colleagues in Carrick Municipal District last Thursday in tribute to her 11 years representing the district as a councillor.

The presentation was made to the Fianna Fáil senator at Carrick Municipal District’s monthly meeting in Carrick-on-Suir Town Hall, the first meeting of the district’s public representatives since her elevation to the Seanad as one of Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s 11 nominees to the upper house.

District Cathaoirleach Cllr Mark Fitzgerald of Fine Gael led the tributes paid to the Ballingarry politician who was first elected as a Carrick MD member of Tipperary County Council in 2014 and topped the poll in Carrick Local Electoral Area in the past two local elections.

He congratulated her on being chosen by the Taoiseach to represent the district and Tipperary South constituency in the Seanad and said her hard work as a councillor had paid off.

The Cloneen councillor recalled the strong working relationship he had with Senator Goldsboro as rural councillors in the district and confessed he would “have been lost without her” in his early days as a councillor as she was always at the other end of the phone to help him.

His expression of congratulations was echoed by the district’s other councillors.

Senator Goldsboro’s Fianna Fáil party colleague Cllr Kieran Bourke from Carrick-on-Suir praised the huge amount of work she did on behalf of constituents in the district over the past 11 years.

“I know that you moulded that seat to your own,” he said and expressed the hope her daughter will be co-opted onto the Council to fill her seat. He looked forward to having her on the council if that happens.

Carrick-on-Suir Sinn Féin Cllr David Dunne said Carrick MD’s elected members were proud of Senator Goldsboro. He wished her every success and looked forward to working with her in her new role.

He noted it was great to have a representative from the district in the Seanad that they knew well and had worked well with and he looked forward to working with her in her new role.

Labour Cllr Michael ‘Chicken’ Brennan also congratulated Senator Goldsboro, thanked her for all her help, and noted the level of experience she brought to the table as a councillor would be missed in Carrick MD.

District Administrator Marie Cox and Director of Services Brian Beck also conveyed their congratulations and best wishes.

Ms Cox said she was genuinely thrilled for Senator Goldsboro but also disappointed she has left the council as she had enjoyed working with her.

Mr Beck said they were always striving for more for Carrick Municipal District and it was great to have the support of Senator Goldsboro in this endeavour.

Senator Goldsboro said she felt very honoured to be invited to the meeting by the councillors and officials to receive this presentation.

“For the last 11 years, it has been an honour to have worked with each and everyone of you,” she said as her voice momentarily trembled with emotion.

“We have achieved an awful lot both in the rural and urban areas and it’s great to see so much funding going into the towns and communities.”

She noted the district faced a lot of challenges during her time on the council and mentioned the impact of storms and climate change on the district’s infrastructure as one example.

Becoming a senator was a “new beginning” and a “learning curve” and it meant the district has a presence in Leinster House, she said.

Senator Goldsboro added that she looked forward to continuing to work with Carrick MD’s councillors and the people of Carrick-on-Suir Local Electoral Area.

Her priority was to deliver for the district and Tipperary South during her term in the Seanad.

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