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Gleneely man is new Deputy Mayor
25.06.09
DONEGAL County Council
new-boy Charlie McConalogue has been elected as
Donegal’s Deputy Mayor on his first day in the
council.
The Gleneely man who was elected to the council on
his first attempt a number of weeks ago, was
nominated for the post by councillor Rena Donaghey
who said she had no doubt he would do a great job as
Deputy Mayor.
Councillor Liam Blaney who seconded the proposal
said that, while this was councillor McConalogue’s
first day in the council, he has been involved in
politics for some time.
“He has worked in party headquarters for a number of
years and is very capable and I think it will be
great to have somebody of the calibre of Charlie
McConalogue as Deputy Mayor.”
However the Inishowen Fianna Fail councillor did not
have a clear run at the post with independent
councillor Thomas Pringle proposing another
independent – Ian McGarvey – for the position. |
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In making the
nomination, councillor Pringle hit out at the voting
pact between Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein, Labour and
independent Seamus O’Domhnaill, saying an
opportunity had been lost for a totally inclusive
council.
Councillor McGarvey was seconded for the position by
councillor Noel McBride but lost out on a vote of
17-12 that saw councillor McConalogue elected.
Speaking following his election to the position he
said it was a terrific honour and he paid tribute to
all who had supported him |
and to all those who
had helped him in getting elected, singling out
former councillor Denis McGonagle in particular for
his assistance.
“It was a great honour to be elected as Deputy Mayor
and I am very much looking forward to working in the
role over the next year. It is not something that I
expected on my first day in the Council Chamber and
it is a real bonus for everyone who worked and voted
to secure my election to the County Council. I once
again thank all those who worked so hard in
achieving this.”
The Fianna Fail councillor said he was glad to have
the opportunity to work alongside the new Mayor,
Cllr Brendan Byrne, and said the fact that they are
both relatively young reflects the fact that there
is quite a number of young faces on the County
Council, something he said he believes is a positive
thing for the county.
“The public expect all councillors to work together,
regardless of party affiliation, to deal with the
many issues that face the county in these difficult
times and I am determined to work in this vein. I
also intend to use the role of Deputy Mayor in any
way I can to try to ensure that issues of importance
to Inishowen are brought to the attention of the
County Council and other relevant authorities over
the coming period,” concluded Cllr McConalogue. |
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