Minister Willie Penrose and Columb Barracks
While not a huge surprise, the impact of the closure of Columb Barracks economically, politically and symbolically will be significant.It's been estimated that the barracks is worth â¬10m per annum to the local economy and with the wider national and global economy showing no signs of recovery in the short to medium term, the closure couldn't have come at a worse time for Mullingar and its businesses.From a political perspective, Willie Penrose's resignation from both the cabinet and the Labour Party, and the subsequent mass resignations from Westmeath's Labour councillors, have not only led to the most dramatic redrawing of the local political landscape in decades, but also left Labour without its most electorally effective branch in the country.Since he first entered the Dáil in 1992, Ballynacargy's favourite son has been the party's most consistent performer at the polls, while councillors such as Mick Dollard have also topped the polls with a regularity that most Labour representatives could only dream off.When the next general and local elections come round, you have to wonder if Eamon Gilmore and company might wonder if perhaps they should have stood shoulder to shoulder with Willie in his attempts to save Columb Barracks, rather than sacrificing one of Mullingar's biggest employers at the altar of the troika currently running the Irish economy.However, while you have to admire the principled stance of the now former Labour representatives, the other side of the argument is to wonder what their resignations have achieved, and ponder the long-term impact for the town and county.For the first time in decades, Mullingar had a voice at the cabinet table and while he may not have been able to prevent the closure of the barracks, a decision which may have been made long ago despite the best efforts of campaigners and politicians, it could be said that the town has never needed a presence in the corridors of power more than it does now.One thing is for sure - the reverberations from this most terrible of Tuesdays for Mullingar will be felt for a long time.