At the age of 30, Westmeath’s new cathaoirleach, Fine Gael’s Cllr Peter Burke, is the youngest person ever to hold the office.
Outgoing cathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council, Cllr Johnnie Penrose, handed over the chain of office to Cllr Burke at Monday’s council AGM.
As proof that the powersharing agreement between Fine Gael and Labour is still alive and well, Cllr Burke was proposed by his party colleague Cllr Fintan Cooney and seconded by Labour’s Cllr Mick Dollard, while Fianna Fáil conceded that they did not have the numbers to contest the position.
Labour’s Cllr Denis Leonard was elected leas-cathaoirleach.
In his opening address as cathaoirleach, Cllr Burke said he intended to be “cathaoirleach for all of the citizens of Westmeath of all walks of life”, and that he would “do everything in my power to bring as much colour and hope to every part of our county during my term in office”.
