Outgoing Mayor of Mid and East Antrim praises unsung community volunteers

The Coast Road DEA Alliance representative, who has been a member of the local authority since 2014, received 1,094 first preference votes at the 2023 local government election.

Ahead of the council’s Annual General Meeting on June 3, Ald Mulvenna took time to reflect on her tenure as it draws to a close.

Detailing the highlights of her year as the borough’s First Citizen, Ald Mulvenna said: “I’m filled with gratitude and thanks for everyone right across this community. For me, the highlight has been having the privilege to meet so many amazing, fantastic people and see the community spirit, the strength behind it and the absolute joy, from all the communities across the borough.

"The business community is amazing, sports, arts, but one of the main highlights was meeting the volunteers. I’ve got to see so much positive stuff and it’s all been led by volunteers. They make the borough so much richer and we’re lucky to have these fantastic people. They make such a vast difference.”

Throughout Ald Mulvenna’s term of office, the borough’s Dementia Champion was able to attend events in parts of the borough she had not been too familiar with previously.

Ald Mulvenna explained: “I wouldn’t really have been in places like Ahoghill, Gracehill and Cullybackey, I knew parts of Carrickfergus and obviously I was familiar with Larne, but being Mayor let me see more places and get a feel of the great work that is ongoing in these communities and I’m proud of all the volunteers I was lucky to meet.

"I had school pupils in my parlours across Larne, Carrickfergus and Ballymena and the children were just amazing. One memory stands out from when I had a group of students, aged seven or eight, in my parlour. I was asking them what they wanted to be and I was getting responses like footballer, engineer and one even said astronaut. One one little girl, ‘Annie’ said she wanted to be kind and I thought this was just fantastic.”

Commenting on what she feels her legacy is, Ald Mulvenna stated: “I wanted to be a Mayor for all. One of the first things I did during my term was to have a recognition event for the LBTQ community. That had never been done in the borough before and I know that the peolpe who attended were pleased that I did it.

"I’ve had amazing support from the council, council staff and Deputy Mayor Ald Stewart McDonald was always there to be available when I wasn’t available. I could have had six or seven engagements to attend per day, so I’ve been incredibly busy. It’s been an unforgettable experience and I’m proud to have been able to do it for these amazing people.

"I’ve also been able to support the work of my chosen charities- Women's Aid ABCLN and 'This Is Me' Dementia Friendly Choir- and I’m thankful for everyone who has donated during my term as Mayor.”