Main pic L-R: Cllr Liam Blaney, Paul Canning (Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council), Margaret Blaney, John McLaughlin (Council Chief Executive) and Senator Niall Blaney at today’s Civic Reception in Lifford.
The County House in Lifford was packed to overflowing this afternoon for a Civic Reception marking 100 years of Blaney family representation on Donegal County Council.
The event was preceded by a strictly observed minute silence in memory of Natalie McLaughlin and her daughter Ella (6), who lost their lives in Wednesday’s road tragedy in Carndonagh.
Cathaoirleach of the council, Cllr Paul Canning, said it was great to see such a huge crowd ‘on this joyous day.’
In his first official duty as Cathaoirleach, he gave an especially warm welcome to Cllr Liam Blaney, Senator Niall Blaney, their mother Margaret, as well as their extended family and supporters.
“We are here today to honour the Blaney family for the outstanding and exceptional record of having a representative on Donegal County Council for 100 continuous years,” Cllr Canning said.
Neal Blaney was first elected to the council as Sinn Féin candidate in 1925, the same year the council was founded.
However, Cllr Canning added, his son Neil T was ‘the most colourful and most recognisable’ of the Blaney political family.
“He focused on stronger rural authority powers and, even in the Dail, never lost that focus,” he continued.
Harry Blaney was co-opted onto the council in 1957 when Neil T received a ministerial role in the government of the day.
Cllr Canning described Harry as having a ‘hands-on and practical style’ as well as a deep connection to his community.
His son, Niall, became a councillor in 1999 and moved onto ‘bigger and better things’ when he was elected to the Dáil in 2002. And, ‘last but not least’, his brother Liam was co-opted onto Donegal County Council in 2003.
“When Niall was elected to the Dáil, Liam contested, and won, every election since,” Cllr Canning said.
“He became the third generation of the Blaney family to be elected Cathorleach and is a strong force for Fanad and greater Milford MD. Congratulations to the Blaney family for breaking this extraordinary record of 100 continuous years on Donegal County Council. Their dedication to Donegal and its people has been second to none. That (100 years) is not just a statistic, but a legacy to the Fanad area that they served and continue to serve.”
Main pic L-R: Paul Canning (Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council), Cllr Liam Blaney, Senator Niall Blaney and John McLaughlin (Council Chief Executive) at today’s Civic Reception in Lifford.
Donegal County Council Chief Executive, John McLaughlin, said it was the ‘biggest group ever’ he had seen in the chamber.
“Few families in Ireland have achieved this and, yet, I’m sure there’s more to come,” Mr McLaughlin said.
“Niall is currently a Senator and Liam a councillor. From the first Neal Blaney and everyone in between… this is a very special day for the family. Harry got the Blaney Bridge and that made a huge change for that area and is his legacy. A common trait running through the family is representing a rural area and understanding the issues of living there.”
Liam Blaney took to the floor to proclaim ‘today is not just our day’ and thanked his family and their many loyal supporters.
“I would also like to pay tribute to my grandmother and her children, and my uncles and their children,” Cllr Blaney said.
“Harry and Neil T were a great team. Niall was elected in 1999 and myself in 2003. We were always involved in politics, but it has been a family affair and that has continued to this day with my family. I would like to thank them for that”.
Becoming emotional, he added: “My mum married my father 60 years ago. Her strength has been outstanding. She was a wife, secretary, mother, chef and farmer…We’ve had the most loyal supporters imaginable and we look forward to continuing the work”.
Senator Niall Blaney also said it was a very emotional day, describing the Blaney as: “a family of many families – much of this would not have been possible without them… in Donegal we are different, but there has been a great political tradition here, many battles have been fought, but afterwards members got on across the board.”
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