Mark Lohan has been officially co-opted on to Galway City Council to take the city central seat left vacant following the resignation of Anna Marley in August. Councillor Lohan is well known in the city through his work as a trade union official with SIPTU.
Speaking at Monday’s local authority meeting, Councillor Lohan said he was very proud to be continuing Anna Marley’s mandate in Galway city. He paid tribute to his wife and her family - the Creavans - who have a long history in Fianna Fáil. “I look forward to being a positive and constructive member of this council. I believe the single most important issue is providing social housing for those who are on the housing list for years. This is an area I am pledging to work on and to work with others to progress.”
The new councillor proposed that the city council’s Housing Strategic Policy Committee meet monthly to discuss the issue and he called on Minister Simon Coveney to release funding for the development of social housing units in the city.
Councillors paid warm tributes to the new local representative and party colleague Councillor Mairéad Farrell said he brought a wealth of experience to the job. “He has been fighting for workers in Galway for years. That experience will speak volumes for him on this council.”
Fellow party colleague Cathal O’Conchúir said it was an honour and privilege to work alongside him on the council and he had no doubt Councillor Lohan would do his best for the people of Galway.
Independent representative Declan McDonnell said as the chair of the Housing SPC he welcomed Councillor Lohan’s comments and commented that members would not be founding wanting in holding meetings to discuss the issue as it was ‘a serious, serious problem in Galway.’
Fellow Independent Colette Connolly welcomed Councillor Lohan to the ‘lions den’. She wished him good luck with the housing issue and remarked that the more people who draw attention to the problem the better. However Councillor Connolly expressed her sadness that the number of female councillors was dwindling.
Fianna Fáil councillor Ollie Crowe complimented Anna Marley on her work in his ward saying she was a capable woman who always had the best interests of people at heart. He also wished the new council member well. “I have no doubt from your background that you are a professional, able, man.”
