CHRISTMAS CARDS will be few and far between the homes of our Borough councillors this year after the recent Council meeting ended in tears, instead of the clink of Christmas glasses and sounds of cheer.

The monthly Borough Council meeting erupted into a series of rows, each more volcanic and apoplectic in their nature than the one that preceded them.

During a ferocious exchange about the abolition of Borough Councils, Independent Cllr. Padge Reck took aim at Labour’s Ted Howlin, who happens to be the President of the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland (AMAI).

In the ensuing verbal jousting tempers flared, prompting Cllr. Howlin to tell his fellow councillor to grow up.

Following this a comment made by Cllr. George Lawlor about a fellow councillor being asleep at a meeting, caused further ructions. Cllr. Danny Forde took exception to the remark, threatening to “come across here” and confront Cllr. Lawlor.

He shouted: “You are going much too personal to people way too often. Don’t ever do that again,” he shouted, before adding: “I swear to God, Jesus, I will not be lectured by you.”

If this weren’t enough Christmas cheer for everyone, Town Clerk Pat Collins and Town Manager Adrian Doyle became visibly incensed during a discussion about the flooding of King St.

Needless to say the traditional Christmas drinks planned for afterwards never happened and mistletoe was not produced.