Lynch elected mayor of Kilrush

KILRUSH Fine Gael Town Councillor Ian Lynch was unanimously elected Mayor of Kilrush at Monday’s town council AGM. The new mayor succeeds his Fine Gael party colleague Councillor Liam Williams.
Mairéad O’Brien (Independent) was unanimously elected to the role of deputy mayor.
All eight councillors present at the AGM paid tribute to the outgoing mayor.
Councillor Tom Prendeville said Councillor Williams had “united the council”, while Councillor Stephen O’Gorman said he had “tried to involve everybody around the table”.
All councillors echoed these sentiments as did acting town manager, Nora Kaye.
In his final speech as town mayor, Councillor Williams said the town council had made significant progress over the last 12 months on a range of issues including casual trading bylaws, the staging of local festivals and the fact that Kilrush hosted a stage of the An Post Rás in May.
Mayor Ian Lynch was proposed by Councillor Williams and seconded by Councillor O’Brien and Councillor Marian McMahon Jones, who battled it out to second the new mayor.
In what was a particularly lengthy acceptance speech, Mayor Lynch expressed his pride at having been elected Kilrush town mayor.
“I am very conscious of the responsibility that has been placed on me with my election as mayor. I intend to fulfil my role to the best of my ability and I look forward to the meeting the challenges of the role,” he said. 
“One of the many reasons I love living in this town and county is the resilience of its people, throughout the toughest of times and hardest of situations. Kilrush has continued to survive as the capital of West Clare and always retains its great sense of pride and community spirit,” Mayor Lynch added.
He acknowledged the scarcity of Government money could impact upon services in the town in the coming year.
“Kilrush Town Council will have to adapt to a reduced budget in many areas that will affect the services we can offer and how we prioritise the needs of the town. I hope as mayor in the coming year to encourage and promote practicable and speedy solutions to the everyday concerns of the people of Kilrush.
“Many of theses concerns, such as the condition of our local roads, support for children, be it education, after-school activities or for those with special needs or indeed the urgent need to address unemployment and our local health care services are in fact the common concerns of all the people of Kilrush and Clare,” he said.

KILKEE Fine Gael Town Councillor Elaine Haugh Hayes was elected Mayor of Kilkee at Monday’s Kilkee Town Council AGM. The new town mayor succeeds outgoing Mayor Brian Keane.
Councillor Paddy Collins (Fine Gael) was elected Deputy Mayor of Kilkee.
The new mayor and deputy mayor were elected to Kilkee Town Council at the 2009 local elections.