First Mayoral Chain for Inishowen Municipal District

The current chairperson of the Inishowen Municipal District, Councillor Rena Donaghey, is the first person to wear the chain of office within this district.

Councillor Donaghey told the ‘Journal’ how it was decided that the Inishowen district should have its own chain office following the abolition of Buncrana Town Council in May, 2014.

This council was then subsumed into Inishowen Municipal District.

While the Buncrana Town Council Chairperson/Mayor wore a chain for many years. no chairperson, known as the Cathaoirleach, has worn a Mayoral chain since the Municipal District, previously known the electoral area, came into effect.

Councillor Donaghey told the ‘Journal’ how the chain “is an outward sign of the office of the Mayor and represents the responsibilities, authority and dignity which are attached to that office.”

She said that the Mayor wears the Chain of Office to all Council meetings and ceremonial occasions when appearing in his/her official capacity, as a mark of pride in the municipality in which they live.

Councillor Donaghey described it as “a great honour” to be the first person to wear the Inishowen Municipal District chain.

She added that the chain will serve the area for 28 years.

The emblem on the chain depicts the Marigold stone which is situated in the graveyard next to the Carndonagh High Cross. The motif sits inside the outline of the Inishowen peninsula and is decorated in the standard Donegal County Council colours. The April meeting of the Inishowen Municipal District takes place today i Carndonagh.