Cllr Pat Nugent voted Cathaoirleach of Dungarvan and Lismore

Cllr Pat Nugent (Fine Gael) will serve as Cathaoirleach of the Dungarvan and Lismore district for the second year in a row.

Cllr Nugent’s nomination was proposed by Fine Gael colleague Damien Geoghegan and seconded by Cllr Thomas Phelan (Labour).

Cllr Conor McGuinness (Sinn Féin) proposed new Councillor Donnchadh Mulcahy for the role, a motion that was seconded by Cllr Joe O’Riordan (Ind), who is also serving his first term in the chamber.

Following a vote Cllr Nugent defeating Cllr Mulcahy five votes to three.

Commenting on his re-appointment, Cllr Nugent said: “It’s a great honour. Last year was my first year as Chairperson of the district and it was my privilege. I would like to extend my warm welcome to the three new members and commiserate with the people who left the Council."

Cllr Damien Geoghegan will serve as Leas-Cathaoirleach for the coming year, having been proposed by Fine Gael party colleague and chamber newcomer Cllr Niamh O’Donovan, and seconded by Labour’s, Cllr John Pratt.

Once again, a vote was called to determine who would take on the role, as Cllr Mulcahy proposed Cllr O’Riordan for the position, which was seconded by Cllr. McGuinness. Cllr Geoghegan received five votes compared to Cllr Mulcahy’s three.

The Council deferred appointing a member to the Dungarvan Town Centre Management Group, with members saying the future of the group would need to be discussed before a member is nominated.

Cllr Damien Geoghegan said: “My own view is the group probably shouldn’t even exist, I think it undermines us here as councillors, even though I’ve been part of the group for the past years. It was an initiative of the former Chief Executive. We now have a new Chief Executive and we don’t know what his view is going to be in relation to the town centre groups."