There were tributes and a standing ovation at this afternoon’s meeting of Sligo County Council to mark the retirement from politics of Sinn Fein’s Cllr Sean MacManus.
Cllr MacManus served as a local representative for 23 years.
He was elected to Sligo Corporation in 1994 and to the county council in 1999.
The Cavan native also served as Mayor of Sligo, a position he described as an honour he treasured.
He has also played a key role in the Northern Ireland peace process.
Councillors said the words that came to mind when remembering Cllr MacManus were integrity, honesty, decency, a good listener, fairness, inclusiveness and loyalty.
He told Ocean FM what were his feelings on his retirement this afternoon: