Councillor Peter Burke has become the latest cathaoirleach of the Mullingar Town Council, and assumed the position at a very speedy annual meeting in the Market House in Mullingar on Tuesday evening (June 28 ).
His deputy for the year will be Labour’s Gerry Sheridan, in what is a continuance of the Labour-Fine Gael power-sharing pact within the three statutory bodies in the county. Cllr Burke will be replacing the venerable Detty Cornally.
On Monday, Mark Cooney (FG ) and Gerry Corcoran (Lab ) took the respective chains for the county council, while the Athlone Town Council are expected to elevate Alan Shaw (FG ) and Jim Henson (Lab ) on Monday evening.
In other news from the meeting, Addresses of Recognition have been mooted and accepted by two sporting notables from the town - Gary Cahill, Ireland’s Davis Cup captain; and Gerry Duffy, the ultra-ironman competitor. These well earned civic honours will be presented to the two Mullingar men respectively on July 13, and a date in early August yet to be decided.
Also revealed at the meeting was that the county council has begun to fill in lands to the north of Ballyglass cemetery with a view to provide future burial facilities, but did not give any indication as to the proposed capacity of this work.
Cllr Ruth Illingworth had asked if the council would consider installing CCTV at the cemetery to combat vandalism and theft, but officials deemed a warning sign would be sufficient at this location. A similar sign will also be erected at the Lough Owel swimming area, while the next CCTV cameras are to be installed at the Harbour Bridge and the Town Park.
In an effort to calm traffic in the Dublin Road estate of Prospect, the council has chosen to build the promised speed ramp between the first two cul-de-sacs, but did not make mention of a specific commencement date. It is expected to be installed before the end of the year.
The council also revealed it was in contact with the motorist who damaged the fence outside Newtown Lawns with a view to obtaining insurance details.
“When this information is received, works to repair it will proceed,” a spokesman said.
A slightly harder line is being taken with the owners of the former O’Gorman residence on the Dublin Road. The third house on the left after the old county library is on the derelict site register, and as such was issued with a levy demand in February in line with recent legislation.
“To date no correspondence has been received from the owner and the matter has been referred to the council’s solicitor,” said a council official.
