Kilrush Town Council has declined to pick up the travel tab for the
attendance of Bishop Frank J Caggiano, Vicar General of the Diocese of
Brooklyn in the United States and Bishop of Scattery Island, at a
special ceremony on the 6th century estuary island early next month.However, the town council can find the funds to send four members to the annual Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland (AMAI) conference in Inchydoney Lodge and Spa in Clonakilty a month later.
According to the AMAI website the cost of registration for the September 12-14 conference is €175 per person.
At Tuesday’s meeting of Kilrush Town Council, town clerk John Corry read a letter from Bishop Caggiano’s office asking if the council is planning to fund his trip next month.
Some councillors, four of whom expressed a possible interest in attending the annual Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland (AMAI) conference, met the request with disbelief.
Town mayor Paul Moroney and deputy mayor Marian McMahon Jones are automatically entitled to attend, while Councillor Christy O’Malley said he was interested in representing the town council, which is due to be abolished in May 2014. Councillor Tom Prendeville said that he might attend the conference.
As for the visit of Bishop Caggiano, the town clerk said Kilrush Town Council couldn’t afford to cover his travel costs.
“We’ve had different receptions before and we haven’t had to pay expenses. I was proposing to reply on the basis that we certainly would be delighted to welcome him but that we don’t have the budget to cover that,” Mr Corry said.
“We look forward to his arrival and we’ll host a reception for him,” Councillor Liam Williams commented.
If Bishop Caggiano visits Scattery Island he will be the chief celebrant at the annual St Senan’s Commemoration Mass.
In his acceptance of the council’s invitation, issued last year, Bishop Caggiano said he was looking forward to sharing the special event with the people of the area.
Back then Councillor Tom Prendeville, who proposed the original invitation and who is chairman and founder of the Comóradh Sheanáin Naofa committee, expressed his delight at Bishop Caggiano’s acceptance.
He said his presence on Inis Cathaigh would be “a significant event that would add further honour and prestige to the reputation of St Senan, the missionary prelate from Molougha, Killimer and the hallowed holy island”.