Cllr Joe Whelan used the occasion of his last address as cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council to pay tribute to the former councillors who lost their seats in the local elections earlier this month.
“To the councillors who lost out, some of whom had many years’ service, my greatest commiserations. Despite the undermining of the work of the council, they served the people well in a professional, selfless, and dedicated manner,” said Cllr Whelan.
“My heartiest congratulations to the new councillors. You could do no better than to examine those who have gone before you and emulate them.”
The shake up following the local elections earlier this month saw longstanding members of Fianna Fail Kieran Molloy and Jim Bourke, and Fine Gael’s Pat McLoughlin and Michael Newman lose their seats. More recent additions to the chamber, Fine Gael’s John Dolan and Labour’s Eugene Dolan, also failed to be re-elected.
Party spokespersons united at last Friday’s meeting in welcoming the new members among them, while singing the praises of the outgoing councillors.
“I welcome the newly elected members. Hopefully they will appreciate their role here. We also remember those who have not returned to the chamber, particularly Kieran Molloy who was the longest serving of them,” said Fine Gael spokesperson Mark Cooney.
Fianna Fail’s Paddy Hill said that while he welcomed the additions to the chamber and especially to his own party in the shape of Cllrs John Shaw and Aidan Davitt, he regretted the loss of others.
“I regret that there were some very good councillors who were not returned. Some lost out as a result of boundary revisions. I am particularly sorry to see Kieran Molloy and Jim Bourke go, they are great losses to our party and the county of Westmeath, and I also regret the loss of Pat McLoughlin and Michael Newman very much.”
And Labour’s Cllr Mick Dollard also offered commiserations to his former colleagues. “If I could pick one person to mention it would be Kieran Molloy - he brought a lot of investment to Athlone and will be a great loss,” he said.
