'PEOPLE'S CHOICE' MCCARTHY ELECTED MAYOR OF FERMOY
Noel McCarthy has been elected the new Mayor of Fermoy. The Labour councillor, who topped the poll in the local elections, was the unanimous choice at last Monday night’s special meeting of Fermoy Town Council. Equally unanimous was the appointment of Fine Gael’s Pa O’Driscoll, who came in second on polling day, as Deputy Mayor.
In nominating his Labour colleague, outgoing Mayor Tadhg O’Donovan said that Cllr McCarthy was ‘the people’s choice’ due to the substantial margin by which he was elected, a tally that has never been achieved before.
He said the appointment of Cllr McCarthy to Mayor would be a decision that “nobody in this chamber or more importantly outside this chamber,” could argue with. In his acceptance speech Mayor McCarthy said he was honoured by both the vote he has received from the people of Fermoy and the unanimous approval of his fellow councillors for the position as Fermoy’s first citizen.
“I am humbled by this decision which I hope is an indication of the type of relationship we as a council will enjoy going forward. I want to see Fermoy prosper in the future and we can play an important role in making this happen by projecting a unified and positive front. We have to work together,” Mayor McCarthy said.
The new mayor said that it was critical going forward that the new town council seek to aid investment in the town however it can, while also giving due attention to ‘bread and butter’ issues like roads and lighting.
“These are critical times for Fermoy and as a council we are duty bound to ensure we make the right decisions going forward. Fermoy is an attractive location for investment. Companies who have set up shop here have proved this time and time again.
"However, if we are to continue to have success in securing inward investment then we as a council must work collectively and project a positive image for Fermoy and all it has to offer. I would like to see some of the projects that were not granted permission being put back on the table and potentially being brought to fruition,” he said.
Cllr Aileen Pyne nominated her Fine Gael colleague Pa O’Driscoll for the deputy Mayor role and congratulated him on his achievement on his successful election to both town and county councils, a nomination seconded by Sinn Fein councillor, Seamus Coleman, who said that it was only fair that the recipient of the second highest votes in the election should assume the position.
“Hopefully as a unified council we will get where we want to be,” Cllr Coleman added.
Published:
Thursday 18th June 6:32pm
