By Dan Walsh at the annual general meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council
Long surviving Bunclody-based Fianna Fáil public representative Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy is the new Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council. She received the full backing of her colleagues at the annual general meeting held in the Presentation Centre, Enniscorthy, this morning.
Cllr Murphy was proposed by outgoing Cathaoirleach Cllr Aidan Browne and seconded by Cllr Pat Kehoe. The Leas-Cathaoirleach is Cllr Pat Kehoe proposed by Cllr Trish Byrne and seconded by Cllr Browne.
Cllr Murphy said it was nice to see an “all-female” top table; she is 21 years in politics and promised to continue to work together with the other councillors as a team for Enniscorthy town and district.
She would like to see more housing in the district and not just in the town, sign off on the CCTV for Bunclody, get the Council Employment Scheme extended to the villages of Bunclody and Ferns, see the Old Murphy-Floods site opened completely and get the St John’s Campus Activity Garden open at St. John’s Hospital, Enniscorthy.
Cllr Murphy was Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District immediately after the town councils were abolished ahead of the 2014-’15 term!
She served as Cathaoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District in 2020 and was Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council in 2021.
Barbara-Anne is the youngest daughter of Rory (and Nancy) Murphy who served on Wexford County Council since 1967 and on her father’s death, she was co-opted to his seat on Wexford County Council in 2004.
All councillors welcomed Cllrs Murphy and Kehoe on their appointments, while the outgoing Cllr Aidan Browne and Cllr Jackser Owens were also complemented on their work for the district over the past year.
Cllr Browne ran through a list of achievements and thanked his colleagues, officials and the local media.
Cllr Browne said it was a busy and interesting year with a local authority election and a general election, but he said the object was to “do the right thing for the town and district” and everybody worked well.
Outgoing Leas-Cathaoirleach Cllr Jackser Owens said it was a pleasure to serve with the Cathaoirleach but told the members that will not be standing next time around. “There should be an Independent in the chair before the four years is up,” added Cllr Owens.
Cllr Pat Kehoe said he was only in the Council since last June’s local elections “and didn’t know what to expect” but he wished everyone well. Cllr Trish Byrne is only a few weeks on the Council but she added her good wishes.
Cllr John O’Rourke stated that the work progressed very well and recalled “putting Enniscorthy on the map” during their trip to Australia with Cllr Browne and District Manager Claire Lawless.
Director of Services Carolyne Godkin said it was an exceptionally busy year with the two elections, but she stated that it was community focussed, she added that the Cathaoirleach and councillors were very professional to work with, and she also added thanks to the Leas-Cathaoirleach. She wished everybody well going forward.
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