Motion to congratulate Trump on election win and invite him to Cork vehemently opposed

The members of Cork City Council have vehemently opposed a motion suggesting Donald Trump be congratulated on his election win and invited to Cork.

Independent councillor for the city's South West ward Albert Deasy proposed, “That Cork City Council write to President-Elect of the United States of America, Donald J Trump, to congratulate him on his historic election victory.

“Additionally, that Cork City Council extend an invitation to him and to Robert F Kennedy Jr to visit the city of Cork at their earliest convenience.” 

The invitation would be “crucial” due to the significant number of American multinational corporations based in Cork, he said.

Fine Gael’s Damian Boylan said, “I oppose any motion that congratulates Donald J Trump or extends an invitation to either Trump or Kennedy,” saying they have both expressed views he finds “morally repugnant and entirely inconsistent with the values we strive to hold in our community.” 

People Before Profit-Solidarity councillor Brian McCarthy said the motion was “an absolute disgrace” calling Donald Trump “a racist, corrupt misogynist.” 

Green party councillor Oliver Moran said, “It’s not the usual practice to send congratulations to people or parties who win elections".

However, Fianna Fáil’s Terry Shannon said he agreed that it would be unusual to write to him, but added, “I don’t have an issue with inviting Donald Trump to Cork”, suggesting that the council cannot “only invite people we like” to the city.

Fine Gael councillor Des Cahill asked Mr Deasy to withdraw the motion, calling it “bizarre” and saying, “It has nothing to do with us – we’re a local authority, it’s simply not appropriate.” 

Mr Deasy said he was “not a popular guy here tonight [at Monday's council meeting],” refusing to withdraw his motion. 

No councillor was willing to second the motion so it failed without needing to go to a vote.

Earlier, Labour Party councillor Laura Harmon proposed the council seek a meeting with the current US Ambassador to Ireland to discuss the interests of Cork city and Cork-American relations following the election result.

Her motion also proposed that the council would seek a similar meeting with the next ambassador appointed by President Elect Trump.

She stated the importance of keeping American business in Cork and the uncertainty that accompanied Trump’s election, and the motion was unanimously agreed on.