Pageantry to mark Tuam’s 400th on Saturday

CEREMONIAL robes have been secured and speeches are being fine tuned ahead of a commemorative procession through Tuam this weekend. Saturday, March 30 is the official anniversary of the granting of a royal charter to the town by King James 1 in 1613. Members of Tuam Town Council will mark the 400th anniversary of local government by taking part in a procession through the town as far as the ancient Chair of Tuam. Led by the Mayor of Tuam Cllr Eamonn Kitt, the councillors will re-enact a historic town council meeting before returning to the Town Hall to unveil a commemorative glass plaque, in what is one of the main Tuam 400 events this year. Former town clerks who have served the local administration down through the years will also be honoured at Saturdayâ€â„¢s event, which has been described as a historic occasion by all involved. â€Å“The royal charter gave Tuam the right to be laid out as a trading market town and also the right to have a sovereign and 12 burgesses,â€Â explained Mike Stewart, coordinator of the Tuam 400 celebrations. â€Å“This was, in effect, the commencement of what is now the town council, which is due to be abolished in 2014, so it is important that this anniversary be celebrated and commemorated.â€Â Cllr Kitt said he was delighted and honoured to be part of Saturdayâ€â„¢s event and thanked local historian Gabriel Oâ€â„¢Connor for his help in preparing the oration he will deliver at the Chair of Tuam. â€Å“Saturday will be the official anniversary of the day in which the Borough of Tuam was incorporated by charter,â€Â he said. â€Å“This historic event marked the beginning of local government in Tuam, which has survived through turbulent times, in many different forms, for four centuries. â€Å“The Tuam Town Commissioners were appointed under the Lighting of Towns Act and their powers and responsibilities were greatly improved under the Towns Improvement Act in 1855. â€Å“In 2001, the Tuam Town Commissioners became Tuam Town Council, which has with very limited resources and powers, overseen the continued development of the town with an infrastructure that owes its development to the generations of local government representatives over the past 400 years.â€Â Cllr Kitt added that while the anniversary was a significant event, it also served as a reminder of the effect the demise of the town council next summer would have on Tuam. It is fitting that we should celebrate the granting of the charter to the inhabitants of Tuam, but it is not fitting to quietly accept the demise of local government. â€Å“We know that you cannot hold back the tide, but you can influence its direction. â€Å“The building of our Town Hall in 1860 is a magnificent legacy of our proud heritage of local government in this town, but it must not become the tomb of local democracy or a museum to 400 years of heritage.â€Â A lone piper will lead Saturdayâ€â„¢s procession, that will include members of the Old Tuam Society, from the Town Hall at 12 noon and proceed to the Chair of Tuam located within the SuperValu car park. The group will then return to the Town Hall for the unveiling of the commemorative glass panel marking the Tuam 400 anniversary, along with a presentation and recognition of the work of former town clerks. â€Å“This is an historic occasion and the public are urged to attend,â€Â added Mike. â€Å“It will also be educational for our younger citizens, so parents especially are encouraged to bring their children.â€Â