Laois County Council elects new Cathaoirleach

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald has been elected the new Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council.

The Fianna Fail Councillor was elected unopposed to the position of Cathaoirleach during the June County Council meeting. Cllr Fitzgerald name was put forward by Cllr John Joe Fennelly with additional support coming from Cllr Elva Kelly.

Cllr Fitzgerald will replace Fine Gael Councillor Barry Walsh who has held the role for the past year.

Addressing the chamber for the final time as Cathaoirleach, Cllr Barry Walsh said:

"Over the past year I have seen the energy of Laois and as councillors we have a responsibility to nurture that spark and support community initiatives. That is why I got into politics. For community and progression and ever since I've started Ive seen so much great community and great progressions with every single conversation reminding me why I stepped forward in the first place."

Concluding his final address, Cllr Walsh thanked all the countless people who had supported him the past year and made his work possible, with special thanks being dedicated to his wife, father, siblings, and children.

Prior to the vote, each councillor praised his work as Cathaoirleach with Cllr Aisling Moran perhaps encapsulating the reactions best: "You took to the role as a duck to the water, and you definitely brought Laois to another level and I felt the chamber change and that's all down to you and in the seven years I've been here you were without doubt number one."

Following on from a hearty round of applause, Cllr Walsh moved proceedings to a vote on the next Cathaoirleach where Cllr John Joe Fennelly put forward Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald for the role, praising her immense involvement in community projects. The newest face in the chamber, Councillor Elva Kelly, also supported Cllr Fitzgerald for Cathaoirleach, describing her as: "... an excellent representative in the community whose phone never stops ringing. She does everything she can."

Councillor Catherine Fitzgerald was the only candidate put forward for the position and the vote passed. Donning the chain of Office, the newly appointed Cathaoirleach posed for some photographs and gave a brief address to the chamber."

"First, I want to thank Barry for a very successful year and for your patience and calmness in the post. I am honoured and sincerely grateful to have been elected Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council and it is a privilege and I look forward to working with each and every one of you, because no matter what our differences, we all share a common goal: to do what is best for the people of Laois."