Mulroy new cathaoirleach of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District

COUNCILLOR Brendan Mulroy has been elected cathaoirleach of the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District (MD).

The Westport-based councillor has previously served as cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council and takes over at the head of the MD from Belmullet member Councillor Sean Carey.

Tributes were paid to Councillor Carey for his leadership of the MD during a year like no other during the pandemic.

He noted how it had been an 'unusual' year but hopefully there is now light at the end of the tunnel. Despite half of the year's meetings taking place online, it had been a busy year and the members got through a lot of work, he said.

Also, in reflecting on the year past, Councillor Carey especially remembered those who have lost family members during the pandemic.

Councillor Carey proposed his Fianna Fáil party colleague Councillor Brendan Mulroy as the new cathaoirleach.

There was a counter proposal – Erris-based Councillor Gerrry Coyle (Fine Gael) proposed that either Councillor Carey would continue in the job or that his FF colleague in Achill, Councillor Paul McNamara, would take over. His preference was to keep the chain of office in the northern part of the MD, saying he felt they were not getting their fair share.

With no one seconding this proposal, Councillor Mulroy was deemed elected to the position, with Councillor McNamara unanimously chosen as leas-cathaoirleach.