17 September 1997
Municipal snub to Princess Diana causes
anger
A row has blown up over the failure of Castlebar Urban Council to fly the national flag at half mast on the day of Princess Diana's funeral.
Members of the authority expressed disappointment over the affair when they adjourned the September meeting as a mark of respect to the deceased.
Mr. Frank Durcan, who raised the issue, said the tricolour was flying at half mast on every other public building in Castlebar on the day of the funeral except Marsh House.
"This is not an isolated incident. There seems to be something strangely wrong within the council when it comes to showing our respect. If the peace process has any chance of being successful, we should be seen to be at the forefront in showing our solidarity to the British public and all of Lady Diana's charitable organisations. I am deeply disappointed that our officials did not see fit to row in with the rest of the country following a tragedy which touched every nation in the world."
He proposed adjourning the meeting and organising a special Ecumenical Service at the Church of the Holy Rosary to put right the wrong that had been done.'
Mr. Johnny Mee said Princess Diana had the common touch for a titled person and had strong Castlebar connections. "I was disappointed the flag was not flown at half mast outside these buildings."
Senator Paddy Burke congratulated the Chamber of Commerce for taking the initiative of opening a Book of Condolences for Princess Diana. "But we are the ones who should have been at the forefront in this regard, but we fell down badly. Princess Diana gave a very generous contribution to the Mayo Cat Scan Appeal a number of years ago."
Mr. Sean Bourke joined in the tributes to Princess Diana and regretted the fact the national flag was not flown at half mast outside Marsh House.
Mr. Eoin Garavan said it was time a lot of people grew up and put aside their Anglo phobia. "As a country, I think we came out of the matter fairly well. But it was wrong what happened with this council."
Mr. Durcan said he believed the flag was not flown at half mast by Castlebar Urban Council was because of a type of nationalism which was not helpful in the search for peace. "I think we should write to Princess Diana's two sons and the Spencer family to convey our deepest apologies."
Appeal to Press
He appealed to the Press not to report the meeting because it would show up the council in a bad light.
Mr. Mee stated the council should define their policy for matters of this nature.
Mr. Blackie Gavin, chairman, revealed how he got a lot of flack over the flag not flying at half mast outside the municipal buildings on September 6th last. "I hope the Press won't print what has been said. Castlebar is a town doing well and this will do us untold damage."
Mr. Gavin said business came to a standstill in Castlebar on the day of Princess Diana's funeral.
Mr. Durcan's call to adjourn the meeting as a mark of respect was seconded by Mr. Mee.
But Mr. Garavan said he was opposed to adjourning the meeting because it would set a dangerous precedent.
"A few weeks ago the chairman was told he could not adjourn a meeting when, in my view, he had the right to do so. If we did not adjourn the meeting then, we should not adjourn the meeting now."
Mr. Mee said the message should go out loud and clear that Castlebar deeply mourned the loss of Princess Diana.
Senator Burke asked the council officials to give an explanation why the flag had not been flown at half mast on the occasion in question.
Vote of Sympathy
Mr. Alex Fleming, assistant county manager, said he wished to be associated with the vote of sympathy to the family of the late Princess. As far as he was aware, there was no flag flying outside Marsh House on the day of the Princess's funeral.
He was in favour of helping to organise the Ecumenical Service in the Parish Church in memory of Princess Diana, but felt it was sufficient to adjourn the meeting for fifteen minutes so that the council could deal with pressing business in hand.
Mr. Durcan said he took pride in being a Castlebarman and he took pride in Castlebar people working in England who expected their town to do something special in memory of the Princess. "I like to see things done properly."
Mr. Mee said the English were a very tolerant race, and it was important that the council displayed solidarity following their great loss.
Senator Burke said it was wrong for the council to adjourn because of a slip up by the officials.
Mr. Mee: "It will be a bigger slip up if we don't adjourn."
Mr. Gavin: "This could make Sky News."
Senator Burke said he would agree to adjourn if the council dealt with a material contravention placed on the agenda.
Mr. Durcan: "If there is any business transacted, it will diminish the value of this proposal."
A vote was taken on Senator Burke's amendment to Mr. Durcan's motion that the meeting would not be adjourned until after the material contravention, in respect of a cinema proposal at Gorteendrunagh, was considered by the meeting.
Senator Burke's motion was defeated by 4-2, with Mr. Garavan lending his support to the motion and Mr. Sean Bourke, Mr. Johnny Mee, Mr. Frank Durcan and Mr. Blackie Gavin, chairman, opposing it.
Following the adjournment, Mr. Durcan said he was disappointed the town clerk had not joined in the tributes to Princess Diana.
