By Adrian Mullan
It is no secret that politics in Northern Ireland have been radically transformed in the past few years to the stage where Sinn Fein and the DUP can share power without any obvious friction. As Strabane Council held its AGM on Tuesday night at which at new chair and vice chair were installed in was clear that the new dispensation of 'mature' politics was also alive in Strabane.
As out-going DUP Chairman, Thomas Kerrigan, prepared to leave office, Sinn Fein councillor Jarlath McNulty joined other councillors in paying tribute to Mr Kerrigan on his year's work.
Mr McNulty said, "On behalf of Sinn Fein we'd like to sincerely thank you for the work you did throughout the year ... you carried out your duties in the way in which all council chairmen should carry out their duties." He observed that the out-going chairman's party and his own party still have their disagreements but commended Cllr Kerrigan on his impartial execution of the duties of office.
Ten years ago such generosity of opinion in the Strabane Council chamber would have been unheard of, indeed, for many years such was the friction that DUP councillors did not even acknowledge the presence of Sinn Fein members (as was the case in most if not all 26 councils).
The outgoing Chairman, for his part, thanked the various councillors who praised his year in office including councillors; O'Kane, Donnell , Emery, and McBride, and Foley.
He recalled a busy year during which he achieved what he set out to do. He expressed his satisfaction that two council employees had won prestigious awards and took particular joy from the fact that, during his tenure, Strabane Council struck one of its lowest ever rates, though he acknowledged that this took all of the councillors and council staff working in unison to achieve such an outcome.
He referred to the opening of the Alley theatre as a particular highlight and said that the theatre was 'A jewel in the crown' and celebrated the fact that he had attended a garden party at Coleraine attended by the Duke of Edinburgh.
He concluded with two regrets, that the district had not got its waste disposal under control and that PPS 14 had not yet been over-turned. On a lighter note he said, "If I'd known you were going to say such nice things about me I wouldn't have left the chair."
