By Dan Walsh at Council Chamber, Gorey Civic Offices
Cllr Oliver Walsh (Fine Gael) is the new Cathaoirleach of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council following a full attendance of 10 members at the Annual Meeting held in the Council Chamber, Gorey Civic Offices, today (Tuesday).
There was a strangely subdued and distinctive non-competitive atmosphere in the chamber as the positions of Cathaoirleach and Leas-Cathaoirleach dominated the agenda.
Cllr Walsh’s nomination was proposed by Cllr Anthony Donohoe and seconded by Cllr Donal Kenny. There was no other nomination and Cllr Walsh was duly elected and received the chain of office from outgoing Cathaoirleach Cllr Pip Breen. His wife, Elaine and their three daughters were guests of honour for a special Walsh family occasion.
Cllr Walsh said it was “a great honour to be elected”, he thanked his proposer and seconder, and said he was “looking forward to the year ahead.” He continued; “I hope it will be a good year working together as a group for the betterment of Gorey Kilmuckridge district.”
Cllr Donal Kenny (Fianna Fáil) was nominated for the Leas-Cathaoirleach position proposed by Cllr Breen and seconded by Cllr Donohoe. There was no other nomination and Cllr Kenny was duly elected.
The meeting welcomed members attending for the first time – Cllr Darragh McDonald, Cllr Paddy Kavanagh and Cllr Nicky Boland – and there was an acknowledgement for the good work done over the previous five years by members who didn’t return after the local elections – Diarmuid Devereux (retired), Andrew Bolger and Willie Kavanagh.
The meeting also welcomed the election of Cllr Pip Breen as Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council which took place in County Hall, Wexford, last Friday.
Director of Services, Liz Hore said she was looking forward to working with each member and promised that there are many exciting projects ahead. She thanked the previous members and said the staff found them accommodating and said they are all looking forward to the next five years.
BIOGRAPHY; A native of Inch, Blackwater, Oliver Walsh is one of the longest serving members of Wexford County Council following in the footsteps of his late father, John Walsh, who served on Wexford County Council for almost four years until his untimely death in 1998.
Oliver was co-opted in 2001 when Ivan Yates TD had to vacate his seat. A past pupil of Blackwater National School and Kilmuckridge Vocational School, he is a member of the farming community.
He served as a councillor in the Enniscorthy area for more than 13 years, until changes were imposed by the boundary commission, and he was automatically transferred into the Gorey Kilmuckridge district.
In 2011, he was elected Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council. Today, he declared; “It is a great honour to be elected as Cathaoirleach of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council.” Applause filled the chamber.
GOREY Municipal District (6 seats); Nicky Boland (Non-Party); Anthony Donohoe (Fine Gael); Donal Kenny (Fianna Fáil); Darragh McDonald (Fine Gael); Fionntáin Ó Súilleabháin (Sinn Féin) and Joe Sullivan (Fianna Fáil). KILMUCKRIDGE Municipal District (4 seats); Pip Breen (Fianna Fáil); Mary Farrell (Non-Party); Paddy Kavanagh (Non-Party) and Oliver Walsh (Fine Gael).
WexfordLocal.com 