Cllr John O’Leary elected Cathaoirleach of Waterford's Comeragh District Council
Newly elected Chairman Cllr. John O'Leary with his wife Eileen. Photo: Sean Byrne
Councillor John O’Leary has been elected Cathaoirleach of the Comeragh District Council.
The Fianna Fáil stalwart was proposed for the position by Cllr Liam Brazil and seconded by Cllr Declan Clune.
Cllr O'Leary served as Mayor of Waterford City and County in 2022/23, Deputy Mayor in 2018/2019 and has also previously chaired the Comeragh District.
Taking his seat as the chairperson of the district once again, Cllr O'Leary said, "I’m looking forward to the year ahead facing the many challenges that lie ahead in the Comeragh area, such as housing, planning, roads, environment and economic development.
"I'm looking forward to making all aspects of the Comeragh district better to live, work and enjoy for everybody.”
Meanwhile, Cllr Liam Brazil was elected Leas-Cathaoirleach.
Cllr O’Leary outlined that housing remains “the single biggest challenge facing each of us”.
“The waiting time of four to five years on the housing list in the Comeragh area is tough going for people who want to get on the housing list and for young people who want to raise families,” he said.
“There has to be a strong case made that the local authority should be empowered and financed to be able to start building much-needed social housing themselves. The local authority did build houses in the past and were very successful at it. I think that should be investigated again.”
Describing Mount Congreve as the jewel in Waterford’s crown, Cllr. O’Leary commended the investment in outdoor recreation schemes, including Tower Hill walking trail and Comeragh Mountain trails upgrade.
He added that a priority will be further improving the Comeragh district as a tourist destination.
“It's important projects are planned and delivered to maintain our high level of tourism,” he said.
Cllr O’Leary also outlined the importance of receiving increased funding for roads.
“Some of our local roads are being cemented and upgraded just once every 30 years. This is an unacceptable situation."
Rubbish dumping and littering in the area was also cited as a key priority.
Commending the new Cathaoirleach of the district, fellow elected members celebrated Cllr O'Leary's experience, work ethic and manner.
Cllr Liam Brazil described Cllr O’Leary as a "very fair and honourable man who is an ideal candidate to be chair”.
"It's important to have someone of your calibre,” Cllr Brazil said.
Cllr Declan Clune, meanwhile, said that Cllr O’Leary possessed "huge experience, great humour and is very approachable”.
Meanwhile, council staff and elected members thanked outgoing Cathaoirleach Cllr Seanie Power for his past two years in the role of Cathaoirleach.
Cllr Power said, “It's been a busy year. The longer you're a councillor, the busier you get. It's nearly a full-time job now but I have to say I'm enjoying it. It's been a busy year, we continue to work hard and we're a good team."
Cllr Power thanked the elected members and staff at Waterford City and County Council before passing the chains to Cllr O'Leary.
Commending Cllr Power for his tenure as Cathaoirleach, Cllr Liam Brazil said, “We in the Comeragh district, we work very well together as a team and having a good Chair is what makes that work. You work hard in your community and that’s why you’ve been so successful here. You’re a very good man in your own area.”
Cllr Catherine Burke, meanwhile, said: "I want to thank you for your support in my first year as a representative. It was a pleasure to work with you."
Declan Clune added, "There's one word that always comes into a sentence when we say Seanie Power and it's ‘fairness’. No party politics come into the chamber and everyone gets an equal shot."
Finally, Cllr John O'Leary said that Cllr Power "will be a hard act to follow".
"You’ve been an exemplary Chair. You don’t politicise, we don’t tend to do that here in this group but we do tend to work together.
"You've done an immense job, never got into any tangle and with every member you've been very fair. You're a gentleman and it was great working with you."
