BACK PAGES: Seán T O'Kelly, a founder member of Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil, was the minister for local government and public health in the 1930s. After his first wife, Mary Kate Ryan, died in 1934, he married her sister Phyllis who ran a laboratory in Dublin's Dawson Street and found herself at odds with Clare County Council when she tried to quadruple her fees for water analyses. A report of another shot in the battle appeared in today's paper in 1938.
THE CLARE County Council yesterday again dismissed the application of Miss Phyllis Ryan (Mrs Seán T O’Kelly) for an increase from 5s. to £1 1s for the analysis of each water sample sent from the county, and affirmed the previous decision not to grant any increase.
A letter was read from Dr GP McCarthy, County Medical Officer, who stated that no less than nine distinct tests were made analysing water, some of which were of a tedious and elaborate nature. It was a wonder how it came about that an analysis had ever been done for the small fee of 5s. He requested members of the council to give careful consideration to all aspects of the situation, with a view to ensuring that there would be no danger of the county being deprived of the services of a public analyst even for a single week.
Mr JP Hughes said that the point at issue was whether the analyst had broken the terms of her appointment as an officer of the council by refusing to carry out a portion of her work.
Mr T Falvey said that, if the council had not any other place to go to get analyses done, he favoured carrying on with the present analyst, and let the analysis of water remain in abeyance until the council was compelled to pay the guinea for it. She was driving the council against the wall, because she was up on a pedestal looking down on the members, who must toe the line . . .
The chairman (Mr Seán Brady) said the analyst had agreed to resign her position if the council asked her. Then it would be said they had pushed her out. Why not send her a sample of water for analysis? Then if she refused to carry out her duty the council would have no option but to push her out.
Senator P Hogan said that if that suggestion was adopted the sending of the sample would be taken as tacit acceptance of her proposal to be paid a guinea per sample for analysis of water.
Mr M McMahon said it was the Analysts’ Association that had made this demand on public bodies, and the public bodies should have a conference with the association to settle the matter.
The secretary said that seven out of 11 counties had already agreed to pay the guinea.
Mr Healy said the analysts, like other officers, had formed themselves into an association, and all sections of officers were now so well organised that the plain people must genuflect before them, and grant whatever they demand. The people would have to make war on such associations at some future date, and present a solid, united fighting front to their demands.
Secretary – Have not the shopkeepers an association, Mr Healy? (Mr Healy is a licensed trader).
Mr Healy – Yes, but the shopkeepers are not sending for anybody. There is competition among shopkeepers, and they are paying well for their very existence. A shopkeeper in the town of Ennis has to pay £1 6s. or £1 7s. in the £ rates.
Mr EF Kerin said that at the previous meeting the council, by 18 votes to two, had rejected the application of the analyst, and he took it that the feeling was the same now.
The chairman agreed and made an order stating the previous decision was adhered to. “We must,” he added, “have the courage of our convictions.”