By Dan Walsh at Gorey Civic Centre
Fianna Fail’s Cllr Donal Kenny from Craanford is the new Cathaoirleach of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council following the annual general meeting held in the Civic Centre, Gorey, this afternoon.
Cllr Kenny’s name was put forward by Cllr Andrew Bolger and seconded by Cllr Willie Kavanagh while Cllr Diarmuid Devereux was proposed by Cllr Oliver Walsh and seconded by Cllr Anthony Donohoe
Following a vote Cllr Kenny was declared the winner by six votes to three and was congratulated by outgoing Cathaoirleach Cllr Pip Breen and took charge of the chains of office.
Cllr Kenny said it was “a huge honour” to be in the position and he thanked “my team” in Gorey, Cllr Bolger who proposed me, and my wife Helen and Danny, who were present in the chamber. Cllr Kenny is looking forward to progressing projects in Gorey town and district and is planning an ‘in-house’ meeting with his fellow members to format a plan of action for the coming year.
Cllr Diarmuid Devereux is the Leas-Cathaoirleach for 2022-23. Cllr Devereux was proposed by Cllr Donohoe and seconded by Cllr Walsh while Cllr Mary Farrell was proposed by Cllr Willie Kavanagh and seconded by Cllr Andrew Bolger. The Fine Gael member triumphed by six votes to four.
Good wishes were expressed by all members to the Cathaoirleach and Leas-Cathaoirleach and Philip Knight, Administrator, on behalf of the staff.
Tributes were paid to the outgoing Cathaoirleach Cllr Pip Breen who, in turn paid tribute to the staff and outlined a long list of eventful occasions along the way. “We had our good days and our bad days,” said Cllr Breen who recalled the Water Treatment Plant episode in August, the floods on Christmas Day, the tragic death of Council worker Billy Kinsella during Storm Eunace at Ballythomas in February – “it was a shock to everybody and we send our sympathies to Rita and Conor -the events on St. Patrick’s Day, the visit of the Ukraine Ambassador, Polski-Éire Day, the opening of the enhancement at Courtown Harbour, events at Boolavogue and Wonderworld and Active Tribe who “left the woods as they were and will honour all the commitments given.”
Philip Knight, who became District Administrator, during the lifetime of the last Council thanked Cllr Breen and Liz Stanley “for taking me under their wing.” He also gave a visual presentation on many of the community events that were revived after the pandemic lockdown.
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