The evening of Monday the 12th of June saw the final of three 2023 Annual Meetings for Louth County Council Municipal District Councils. Municipal District Councils were formed in accordance with the Local Government Reform Act 2014 following the dissolution of Town Councils.
Municipal District meetings of Drogheda, Dundalk, and Ardee are held on the first Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of the month respectively excepting on a bank holiday when the Drogheda meeting goes to the following Monday. The Annual Meeting for each is typically held immediately preceding the June monthly meeting each year. The first order of business of an Annual Meeting is the election of a new Cathaoirleach and the second the election of a Leas-Chathaoirleach.
Ardee Municipal District Council covering the mid-Louth area and comprising of 6 Elected Members (Councillors) of Louth County Council were the first to say thank you to their outgoing Cathaoirleach Cllr Paula Butterly. Their Annual Meeting was held on Thursday 1st June in the Dermot O’Brien Room of Ardee Civic Offices. Cllr Butterly won’t be going far as she remains a Member of Ardee MD. Along with her colleagues, she elected Cllr Dolores Minogue as new Cathaoirleach for the 2023 / 2024 term of office. Cllr Minogue who was previously Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council will be assisted in her role by Cllr John Sheridan who was elected to the role of Leas-Chathaoirleach.
Dundalk Municipal District Annual Meeting was next to see a change of Chair, with their Annual Meeting being held on Tuesday 6th of June in the Chamber of Dundalk Town Council on Fair Street Dundalk. Cathaoirleach Cllr Kevin Meenan thanking all his 12 fellow Councillors for their support during his 12-month term, vacated his chair in Dundalk MD, to make way for incoming Cathaoirleach Cllr Seán Kelly. Cllr John Reilly who was elected as Leas-Chathaoirleach didn’t miss the opportunity to present a St. Brigid’s Cross to new Cathaoirleach Cllr Kelly.
The Municipal District of Drogheda which is referred to as the Borough District of Drogheda is made up of 10 Elected Members. It saw the first ever female to female Mayor exchange for Drogheda on Monday 12th June, with Cllr Michelle Hall vacating her seat to give way to Cllr Eileen Tully as new Mayor of Drogheda. Cllr Tully whose late husband Oliver previously also stood as Mayor of Drogheda will be assisted in her role by Cllr Kevin Callan as Deputy Mayor.
All 29 Elected Members must now come together to elect an overall Chair or Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council at the Annual Meeting on Monday 19th June. Once elected the Cathaoirleach will be deemed the first citizen of Louth, taking precedence over all others, except the President, when attending events or functions within the county. Cllr Conor Keelan is currently the Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council.
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CLANRYE NEWS 