Fianna Fáil’s Pat Daly has been formally declared as the next Mayor of Clare at Aras Contae an Chlair and takes over the Mayoral chains from Pat Hayes.
Meanwhile, Clr Pascal Fitzgerald has made history for Labour in Clare – become the first ever member of the political party in the county to be elected as Deputy Mayor…
Pat Daly secured the position of the new first citizen of Clare after being nominated and seconded by fellow party councillors PJ Kelly and Pat McMahon – no other candidates were put forward.
In taking to his feet and surround by family, friends and members of Clare FF, Mayor Daly first quipped that he had reached the greatest point in his career after been a councillor for 13 years -his mother’s lucky number.
He acknowledged he was entering the role at a very difficult time economically and paid tribute to all the work of the council staff – given the ever increasing financial constraints.
Clr Daly welcomed the transport minister’s proposals for Shannon Airport and called on Ryanair’s Michael O Leary to come to Shannon to establish a new deal on flights
He hoped that the Gathering will be a huge boost for County Clare, both from an economic and tourism point of view – and would also like to see a date set during his term for Fleadh Ceoil na hEireann to come to Ennis.
The mayor then nominated Labour’s Pascal Fitzgerald for the position of Deputy Mayor – and its the first time a Clare Labour member has held that position at the local authority.
Earlier, outgoing Mayor Pat Hayes reflected on a wonderful year for him which took him on what he described as an amazing voyage of discover around County Clare.
