‘It’s an honour and a privilege to be here’: New cathaoirleach in Limerick
Tributes paid to councillors who retired and failed to get re-elected
AS THREE councillors took their seats at the first meeting of the new Cappamore-Kilmallock Municipal District term, tributes were paid to those that went before them.
Another new face around the table was Mayor John Moran.
Cllr Martin Ryan congratulated the three new Fine Gael councillors - Greg Conway, Noreen Stokes and Tommy O’Sullivan - and welcomed back the returning trio of PJ Carey, Eddie Ryan and Brigid Teefy. Cllr Martin Ryan said it is “an honour and a privilege to be here and do our best for the people of Cappamore-Kilmallock”.
Cllr Martin Ryan said Mike Donegan, who failed to get re-elected, was one of the best councillors you could meet.
“He is an out and out community man,” said Cllr Martin Ryan, who also paid tribute to retiring councillors John Egan for his hard work and Ger Mitchell for being an excellent mayor.
Cllr Martin Ryan was proposed as cathaoirleach by Cllr Conway and seconded by Cllr Stokes. Cllr Conway is the new leas cathaoirleach after being proposed by Cllr Martin Ryan and seconded by Cllr O’Sullivan.
Cllr Martin Ryan welcomed the new mayor and wished him the very best in his new role. Mayor Moran told a story about one of his opponents going into a business in Kilmallock during the campaign trail.
The candidate was told, “It's your first time here, John Moran has been here three times,” recounted the mayor.
Cllr Eddie Ryan told Mayor Moran it was the practice of councillors of Cappamore-Kilmallock to do their business at the municipal district meetings.
“Newcastle West and Adare-Rathkeale bring theirs to the floor of County Hall,” said Cllr Eddie Ryan.
Mayor Moran said he would prefer countywide policies to be addressed in the council chamber.