Solicitor wins top role in largest Laois council district 

A NEWLY qualified solicitor is the new cathaoirleach (chairperson) of the largest county council district in Laois.

Fine Gael councillor Conor Bergin was elected unopposed as chair of the Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal District this morning, having been proposed by party colleague Cllr John King from Rathdowney and seconded by Cllr Ollie Clooney (Ind) from Durrow.

He takes over for the next year from outgoing chairperson Cllr Seamus McDonald (FF), who is celebrating 40 years on Laois County Council this month and is the council’s longest serving elected member.

Meanwhile, Cllr Clooney was elected unopposed as vice-chair of the six-seater district, which stretches from Clonaslee to Cullohill and is the largest of the county’s three local electoral areas in terms of geographical size.

Cllr Clooney was proposed as vice-chair by Cllr Paddy Bracken (FF) from Mountmellick and was seconded by Cllr King.

Due to an ongoing pact between the two main parties, who hold a majority on the 19-seat county council, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil share out the top roles annually, supported by Cllr Clooney who is non-party but part of the Fine Gael gene pool.

From Shanboe, Borris-in-Ossory, Cllr Bergin was only 25 when he was first elected to Laois County Council in 2019 and topped the poll in last year’s local elections, scooping the highest ballot in the county with 1,606 votes.

In 2021, he became the youngest county council cathaoirleach in Ireland when he was elected as the youngest-ever chairperson of Laois County Council.

He previously worked as a political advisor to Laois TD Charlie Flanagan during his tenure as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and as Minister for Justice and Equality.

Now aged 31, Cllr Bergin won a nomination to run for Fine Gael in the 2024 general election last November but withdrew to give current TD Willie Aird a clear run ‘in the interest of party unity’. He ran unsuccessfully in the Seanad elections earlier this year and qualified as a solicitor in May.

Educated at Roscrea Community College, he has a BA (Hons) degree in History and Politics and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from University College Dublin, where he was actively involved in campus politics and served as chairperson of the UCD Young Fine Gael Society.

Proposing him for the top role in Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick, Cllr King said he had already proved himself as a very successful county council chairperson and had gained a lot of experience over the past six years, with a poll-topping performance in 2024.

Supporting the proposal, Cllr Clooney said that Cllr Bergin was young and “an ideal candidate”, as he congratulated him on completing his studies and qualifying as a solicitor.

Cllr Bergin said it was “a huge privilege” to become district chairperson for the first time and he was “very proud” to chair a council that does “great work”.

He joked: “It took me almost four-and-a-half years to do my apprenticeship as a solicitor but the apprenticeship is much longer on the council!” Many tributes and congratulations were paid to Cllr McDonald on his 40th anniversary in local politics and his efficiency as chairperson for the past year.

Cllr Clooney remarked: “What a fine man you are and there wasn’t a cross word out of you.” Cllr King complimented the Rosenallis man’s “calm demeanour” and positive approach, while Cllr Bergin said he had now earned the title ‘Father of the Council’.

Cllr Bracken told his Fianna Fáil colleague that 40 years on the council was a great achievement and that he had chaired meetings “very effectively and calmly”.

Cllr James Kelly (Ind) from Mountrath said that Cllr McDonald was very effective and a good friend outside the council chamber, as he quipped: “I’m sure you’re looking forward to being elected next time too!” 

On behalf of council staff, director of services Angela McEvoy described Cllr McDonald as “very cool, calm and collected” as she thanked him for his work over the past year.

A man of few words, Cllr McDonald thanked everyone for their good wishes and for their cooperation during his time in the top role.

As well as Mountmellick and Borris-in-Ossory, the large district takes in many towns and villages that include Mountrath, Rathdowney, Rosenallis, Ballyfin, Camross, Castletown, Errill, Clough, Donaghmore, Ballacolla and Durrow.