Poll topper Seanie Power to chair Comeragh District Council

Cllr Seanie Power (Fine Gael) will remain as Cathaoirleach of the Portlaw/ Kilmacthomas (Comeragh) district, following unanimous support from council members.

At the District Council AGM this week to determine who would take the seat, Cllr Power was proposed by Fine Gael colleague Liam Brazil.

“I’m delighted to be proposing you today,” Cllr Brazil told the chamber. “You’ve topped the poll in every election, including this one. 

"The people of the Comeragh district have great faith and belief in you to be the Chairman of the district and so do I as a member of your party.

“You’ve done great work in the district and you proved that in the vote you got from Rathgormack, Clonea and Crehana. 

"You got a savage vote in these areas for the people you represent.

“Wouldn’t your father, Billy Power, be delighted to see you sitting up there with that chain around your neck.“ 

In seconding the proposal, Cllr Declan Clune (Ind) said, “Since I got to know you, you’ve demonstrated your ability to deal with situations. You’re very approachable, you’re very proactive and, as Cllr Brazil alluded to, you have tremendous support.

“I would have absolutely no difficulty endorsing you as chair of the Comeragh District for the coming year.” 

Cllr Power thanked his colleagues for the support and cited roads, farming issues and supporting the region's strong offering of tourist amenities as key goals for the upcoming term.

Cllr Declan Clune will serve as the new Leas-Chathaoirleach of the district, having been proposed by Cllr Liam Brazil (FG) and seconded by Cllr John O’Leary (FF).

Cllr Brazil commended the work of Cllr Clune, saying: “It’s fantastic for Portlaw to have someone like Declan working so hard. I do believe firmly that’s why the Comeragh district is working so well, because the right people are in the right place."

Cllr O’Leary added, “He’s putting in a big effort and that showed in the turnout of the vote, which he got in the elections. He will certainly do justice for those who voted for him.” 

Meanwhile, the recent meeting marked the commencement of Catherine Burke's new role as councillor.

A Bonmahon native, Cllr Burke (Sinn Féin) is a distant cousin of Cllr Seanie Power, a point he alluded to whilst welcoming her to the chamber.

“A special welcome to Catherine on her first term, we wish you the very best of luck and we look forward to working with you for the betterment of the district for the next five years.

“Catherine’s grandfather Dinny Hassett, or Big Dinny as we all knew him, won county medals with Clonea and played Gaelic football with Rathgormack like myself.” 

Cllr Burke commented, “I’m really delighted to be here. I’m looking forward to working with all my colleagues in the Comeragh district council for the betterment of our community. Thank you so much Seanie and thank you for mentioning my grandfather.

“I also want to express my thanks to Cllr Ger Barron on his retirement for his time of service.” 

Welcoming Cllr Burke to the Chamber, Cllr Clune said, “I’m delighted to see Catherine here, it's great to have some gender balance as well to have a different perspective."

Cllr John O’Leary commented, “I want to welcome Catherine. I had the great honor this morning of being the first councillor to meet her and actually showing her where to sit, so I put her right in the middle.” 

“Bonmahon is one of our favourite places. It’s a place with a great future and will benefit hugely from having a representative. We work together in unison for the betterment of the Comeragh district and that has been our motto since the amalgamation and formation of the district council.”