No more 'Let us pray' in Westmeath council chamber?

The long-standing tradition of saying a prayer before each meeting of Westmeath County Council could soon be consigned to history.

The scrapping of the prayer was first raised by Cllr Hazel Smyth, who was elected for the first time on the Green ticket in the Mullingar Municipal District, and the issue was raised by her newly-elected Green colleague in the Athlone area Cllr Louise Heavin, at last week's monthly meeting of the council in Mullingar.

The council, which is chaired by Cllr Paddy Hill decided to refer the matter to the council's Corporate Policy Group for further consideration and discussion.

“Oh God bless us!” was the shocked – and unintentionally ironic – initial reaction of Cllr Hill, when Cllr Louise Heavin said she wished to make a comment on the fact that meetings start with “a religious prayer”.

“I would propose in the interests of inclusiveness and equality that we don’t say a religious prayer; that we replace it maybe with a moment’s silence,” the Green Party councillor said.

There was laughter as it dawned on the cathaoirleach himself and the members that he had responded to Cllr Heavin’s proposal with what might in itself be counted “a religious prayer”.

“I can’t agree with you,” Cllr Hill said to Cllr Heavin, with approval for his stance expressed verbally by Cllr Frank McDermott.

“You are entitled to make a proposal here, but personally – I am not too sure about the rest of the members – but as long as I am here, I will say a prayer.”

“And I will second that,” said Cllr McDermott.

Cllr Heavin wasn’t to be deterred: “It’s just that, to be fair to the people in the council chamber that are nonreligious, and also the fact that we have to represent the whole people of the county of Westmeath…,” she began.

“As we have done for the last 50 years or more,” interjected Cllr McDermott.

“… Not just people of one faith,” Cllr Heavin continued, going on to suggest that maybe different prayers for different faiths could be offered.

Cllr John Dolan suggested that the issue be placed on the agenda for the next meeting and that a vote be taken at that stage. 

Councillor Hill’s view was that they could take a vote on it “right here, this minute”, but Cllr Johnny Penrose proposed that the matter be left to the Corporate Policy Group (CPG) to discuss.

Cllr Hill stated that he respected everybody’s religion, and he expected everyone to respect his religion, and he was sure that everyone in the chamber would feel the same – that they would respect other people’s religions.

“Agreed!” said Cllr McDermott.

“Saying a prayer at the start of the meeting is, I think, the appropriate thing to do,” said Cllr Hill. 

Members agreed to have the CPG consider the issue.