PA TAKES THE MAYORAL CHAIN IN FERMOY
Fermoy this week elected a new town mayor, writes Brian Moore. Surrounded by his family, friends and supporters, Fine Gael councillor, Pa O’Driscoll received the chain of office from outgoing mayor Cllr Noel McCarthy of Labour at a ceremony in the town hall on Tuesday night.
At a packed council chamber, Cllr O’Driscoll accepted the role as mayor and chairman of Fermoy Town Council and said he was honoured to have been chosen to represent the town for the coming year. Cllr Michael Hanley was elected deputy mayor and pledged his support to Cllr O’Driscoll.
As the election got underway, Cllr Hanley proposed Cllr O’Driscoll for the role of mayor and this nomination was seconded by Cllr Colette Dolan-Moore (FF). Cllr Tadhg O’Donovan (Lab) proposed Cllr Aileen Pyne (FG) for mayor citing her years of experience at Fermoy Town Council, this was seconded by Cllr John Murphy.
In the vote that followed Cllr O’Driscoll received five votes and Cllr Pyne received three. Cllr Seamus Coleman (SF) abstained. Cllr Olive Corcoran (FF) then proposed Cllr Hanley for deputy mayor and again Cllr Pyne was also proposed for the position.
However, it was Cllr Hanley who received five votes to three and was elected deputy mayor.
Magnanimous in defeat, Cllr Pyne wished the new mayor and deputy mayor all the best for the coming year, “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Cllr O’Driscoll and assure him of my full support,” she told the meeting.
Speaking after his election Mayor O’Driscoll said that he was honoured and looked forward to the year ahead, “I would like to thank Cllr Hanley for proposing me for the role of mayor. The year ahead will be a tough one but I look forward to working for and representing the people of Fermoy,” he said.
Mayor O’Driscoll also thanked Cllr Noel McCarthy for all his work over the last year, “Cllr McCarthy’s time as mayor saw many changes at the town hall, he achieved consensus and he improved proceedings and I thank him for all his excellent work as mayor over a very difficult year. We have already made some big decisions today regarding Fermoy. There is now a plan for the restoration of the weir and I look forward to seeing the work completed,” Mayor O’Driscoll said.
Cllr Noel McCarthy, in congratulating the new mayor, spoke of his own experience over the last year, “It is a great honour to be mayor of Fermoy and I know Pa O’Driscoll will do a very good job,” Cllr McCarthy concluded.
Speaking to The Avondhu after his election Mayor O’Driscoll said he was confident that Fermoy was on the right track for the future, “There is a lot of work going on in Fermoy at the moment, this work is very necessary and will ensure that the town has a bright future,” Mayor O’Driscoll added.
Published:
Thursday 17th June 5:41pm
