By Dan Walsh at Wexford County Council special meeting
Two new members – Cllr Vicky Barron and Cllr Craig Doyle – were warmly welcomed to Wexford County Council at a special meeting held in the Council Chamber today (Monday) filling the vacancies created by George Lawlor (The Labour Party) and Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin (Sinn Féin) who were both elected to serve in Dáil Éireann in the November General Election. Cllr Pip Breen, Cathaoirleach, presided.
On the proposition of Cllr Catherine Biddy Walsh and seconded by Cllr Michael Sheehan Cllr Vicky Barron replaced George Lawlor. Cllr Barron thanked everybody for “a wonderful opportunity to sit on the council with a colleague like Biddy” and she thanked George Lawlor for his encouragement. She told the members of her “excitement to work with you. It is an honour and a privilege.”
Cllr Barron is originally from Taghmon, but now a teacher living and working in Wexford town. A member of The Labour Party, Cllr Barron received 412 first preference votes at last June’s Local Elections and she was still standing at the 11th and final count when her vote had more than doubled and stood at 986 votes.
Craig Doyle was proposed by Cllr Tom Forde who described him as “a member of Sinn Fein, an activist in the party, well respected and a hard worker, he will be the youngest member of the Council and a good man for the job.” He was seconded by Cllr AoifeRose O’Brien who said; “Craig will be a great addition to the Council and I look forward to working with him.”
Cllr Craig Doyle from Allenwood Drive, Gorey, is at 28 years old the youngest of the 34-member council. He replaces Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin who was elected to Dáil Éireann for the new Wicklow-Wexford constituency.
Many councillors expressed their congratulations towards Cllrs Barron and Doyle, but former members George Lawlor and Fionntán Ó Súilleabhain were also fondly remembered for their fine work as councillors and wished well as members of Dáil Eireann.
Johnny Mythen, who was present in the visitor’s gallery, was congratulated on being re-elected to the Dail, while the many years of devoted service from retiring TD’s Brendan Howlin, who was in attendance, and retiring member Paul Kehoe were also strongly acknowledged.
Speaking on behalf of the staff and senior management at Wexford County Council, Chief Executive Eddie Taaffe paid tribute to Deputy Mythen, retiring TD’s Brendan Howlin and Paul Kehoe, and ex-councillors Lawlor and Ó Súilleabháin. He welcomed the new councillors coming in and promised them the full support of the staff and management at Wexford County Council.
WexfordLocal.com 