Tag Archives: first citizen

A FORMER Bus Eireann bus inspector from Killaloe has driven to the top of Clare County Council. Councillor Tony O’Brien was elected unopposed as Clare’s next first citizen without a vote as part of the power-sharing arrangement that was first brokered in 2004 at the annual general meeting in Ennis on Friday.   The former Smith O’Brien GAA club secretary replaced Councillor P J Ryan, who was lauded for being a great ambassador for the county over the past year. Councillor O’Brien was proposed by his Fianna Fáil colleague, Councillor Pat Hayes and seconded by Joe Cooney, Fine Gael, while Councillor Gerry Flynn, Independent also expressed his support. Councillor Ann Norton was elected as vice-chairperson for the next year, succeeding Councillor Joe Killeen. In his wide-ranging address following his election, Councillor O’Brien pledged to work in partnership with the Shannon Group to attract further investment and more traffic through Shannon Airport. The Killaloe resident promised to continue progressing the proposed …

Former Independent Deputy James Breen has been elected as the new Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council . Councillor Breen, who was elected without any vote pledged “action and real leadership” as first citizen to drive economic development in the county at the authority’s annual general meeting on Friday. “When I was elected a Dáil Deputy I remember saying that politically this wouldn’t be surpassed until today. “I am proud to be the first man from Kilnamona to be elected as chairman of Clare County Council. “I can think of no greater honour than to represent Clare people as cathaoirleach. When I look around the council chamber at former chairmen, it gives me a great sense of pride to be included amongst them,” he said. Councillor Mary Howard was also elected to the position of deputy cathaoirleach without an election. Interestingly, the Fine Gael Councillor was also elected as deputy Mayor of Ennis at the annual general meeting of the Ennis …

By Peter O’Connell CITING “family considerations” for his decision not to contest the forthcoming county council election, current Kilrush Town councillor, Tom Prendeville  is to retire from public office at the end of May, after almost 30 years in local politics. The Fianna Fáil councillor’s rejection at local convention, and subsequently not being added to the party ticket, had heightened speculation that he would enter the field as an Independent candidate. However, he is insistent that his own personal preference would have been to stand for re-election but that “I had to bow, however reluctantly, to family matters.” A poll-topper in his first election to Kilrush Urban Council in 1985, he was elected to Clare County Council in 1991 and held his seat until 2009. In his dual urban and county mandate, he wore the town mayoral chain of office for three terms. Councillor Prendeville is adamant that his greatest achievement in public life was the All Saints Shanakyle Cemetery …