End of an era in Donegal following the death of well known public representative

There was shock and deep sadness in the peninsula and wider Donegal this morning at the passing of Inishowen Cathaoirleach, Councillor Bernard McGuinness (Fine Gael). 

From Culdaff, Cllr McGuinness was the longest continuously serving member of Donegal County Council. 

When he retained his seat in May 2019, Cllr McGuinness passed his 40 year milestone as an elected representative. He was first elected in 1979, when he replaced then retiring Malin Fine Gael councillor, Bertie Boggs.

A seasoned campaigner, Cllr McGuinness also contested a few Dáil Éireann elections down through the years.

In a major interview with Inish Times just before the 2019 Local Government Elections, Cllr McGuinness recalled that he twice stood as running mate for the late Paddy Harte and in 2002, he and Seán Maloney polled 4,000 votes apiece for Fine Gael.

As Cllr McGuinness is remembered today, Donegal Live has re-published that landmark interview:

A stoical Cllr McGuinness observed he might have got elected had the vote not been split. “It was about vote management,” he said.

He added: “My Council colleagues have included Cllr JJ Reid (Fine Gael), Cllr Sean McEniff (Fianna Fáil) and Cllr Harry Blaney (Independent Fianna Fáil).

“Donegal County Council is quite different now than it was in my early days as a councillor. It felt like we had more power then than we do today. I am not complaining about Council officials, they have a different role to play now.

“Councils have reserved functions, and make the decisions and Council officials will explain why we have to take certain course of action.

Tribute paid to late Inishowen Cathaoirleach Bernard McGuinness

'Bernard was an honourable, decent man and a Fine Gael man to the back bone' - Joe McHugh TD

“We have to look at what benefits the country in the long-term. Council officials take an overview and their advice is very much appreciated and needed as far as I am concerned," said Cllr McGuinness.

Councillor McGuinness' father, Johnny McGuinness, and his grandfather were here [in Culdaff] in the bar and grocery business, as were his great-grandfather and his great-great-grandfather.

Cllr McGuinness said: "My mother was Mamie Doherty from Malin Head. Sadly, she died a month after I was born.

“My father was a life-long Fine Gael supporter. He died when I was 20 years old. He would have been involved in the party locally.

“Growing up I would have been involved with farmers. I farm as well as running the business. At that time, I was involved with Macra na Feirme and the, later, I joined the IFA but I wasn’t as active in it as I was in Macra na Feirme.”

Reluctant to take sole credit, Bernard McGuinness said one of the best things Donegal County Council ever did was to open Public Services Centres in Carndonagh and throughout the county.

He said: “I was Chairperson of Donegal Co. Council in 1995/1996 when those regional offices were built Michael McLoone was Manager of Donegal County Council at the time.

“They were a big benefit for the areas in which they were situated. And, in addition we now have the Municipal District of Inishowen and a lot of the things that would have been dealt with in Lifford years ago, are now being dealt with at those monthly meetings in Carndonagh, I think that is a good thing.

“I played a pivotal role in getting the Public Services Centre in Carndonagh, along with the late Cllr Denis McGonagle (Fianna Fáil)

“I think Carndonagh needed the Public Services Centre. I was also very committed in keeping the Civic Office in Buncrana.

“There were plans to close the office completely, but I was very strong about keeping it because I do believe that Buncrana needs a Civic Office and that was week borne out the time of the tragedy at the slipway, when we were able to open a Book of Condolences in the Civic Office.

“Although I do feel the Carndonagh Public Services Centre is understaffed. I think sometimes Council Officers don’t appreciate that if someone from Malin Head has to go to Lifford, in relation to planning, or anything else, it is an 80 mile, nearly 90 mile round trip. That’s not fair," said Cllr McGuinness.

Cllr McGuinness felt Inishowen had come on “fantastically well and the roads were “vastly improved.”

He said, “I know we had the terrible flooding but the response from Government was fantastic. I have to take my hat off to Joe McHugh for that. He had practically all the Government Ministers up here and we got a serious amount of money and people couldn’t believe it at the Irish Open, which was brilliant, that the roads were all repaired.

“People were probably at national media to the devastation of Inishowen and they couldn’t believe it when they came up to the Irish.

“Donegal County Council staff went over and beyond the call of duty. There was absolutely no doubt about that.

“The place looked lovely and everybody played their part. Fair play to Ballyliffin Golf Club, they were the main people. Funding was also procured from Fáilte Ireland the Cross Border Group of which I have been a member for 30 years or more, the North West Regional Cross Border Group (NWRCBG).

“The promotion of Donegal/Derry as a City Region is all part of the Cross Border developments. I think that is very important because we have a combined population of 450,000 and that is the third largest City in Ireland Government is recognising that now," said Cllr McGuinness.

Complimenting Seamus Neely, Chief Executive. Donegal County Council and John Kelpie, Chief Executive Derry City and Strabane District Council, said they had done “great work” in terms of cross-border co-operation.

“The Colleges are working collaboratively and the cancer services in Altnagelvin being to Donegal is a great thing," Cllr McGuinness said.

“One of the achievements and possibly the greatest achievement I was involved in terms of cross border development was the Foyle Ferry Services, from Magilligan to Greencastle, and subsequently the Ferry services across the
Swilly, from Buncrana to Rathmullan.

“The Magilligan to Greencastle Ferry service has been a tremendous success. It went through tough times and we had a hard job getting money for it and everything else but it is a piece of infrastructure which has made a big difference to Inishowen and it is now becoming a commercial operation. However, it took a lot of work.

“Everything we get, including the recently announced Ambulance Service, which is a tremendous thing for Inishowen, takes a phenomenal amount of work"

Without hesitation Cllr McGuinness identified Mica as the “biggest issue” facing Inishowen.

He said: “The biggest priority for North Inishowen is the Mica Redress Scheme and how it is rolled out. That’s the most important thing. That to me is the biggest issue for us here.

“And, the second biggest issue is the high Insurance costs for cars, houses, a small businesses, which is having an adverse effect on people returning home to Ireland from abroad especially.

“Car insurance for young drivers is crazy and I just think the Insurance Industry is behaving immorally.

“I also had a motion passed in Donegal Co. Council about the re-establishment of Fisheries Committee and the Agriculture Committee in the county.

“We also need to see the further development of the tourist product in Inishowen which would include the deep water port at Greencastle, the finishing of the harbour, to enable the cruise liners to berth.

He also cited additional resources for people with special educational needs and older people as two of his priorities. 

Cllr McGuinness added: “I am, especially proud of Bonagee Harbour and the marina, which I think is a fantastic facility. It hasn’t yet reached its full potential but it will through time. I am very proud of that.

“I have also helped many sporting bodies, including Culdaff FC, Carn Rugby Club and the Boxing Clubs, through Donegal Co. Council.

“I enjoy my life in the Council, I enjoy the craic. There are serious matters to be dealt with and it is how you deal with them.

“Local Government serves the people when representatives put aside their egos and have the experience and maturity to recognise the importance of working together. Throughout my years in the Council, I have tried to work with everyone, regardless of party affiliations to improve our area and I want to continue to do this. I am always aware that with every successful project completed, others have played their part. And the most important people are other Councillors and Council officials.”

Describing the GAA as “the greatest organisation in Ireland without any doubt”, Cllr McGuinness praised the “wonderful volunteerism of Inishowen.”

“I will carry on serving the people. My supporters have been so loyal for all those years, I couldn’t let them down,” concluded Cllr McGuinness with a smile.

On this sad occasion, Inish Times and Donegal Live extends sincere condolences to Cathaoirleach Bernard McGuinness' wife, Jan, children, Maria, Johnny, Jean, Ross and Gregory, his grandchildren and wider family circle.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.