Stradbally vet is new chair of Laois district council

A VETERINARY surgeon from Stradbally is the new chairperson of Graiguecullen-Portarlington Municipal District (MD), just a year since she was first elected to Laois Co Council.

Fine Gael councillor Vivienne Phelan took the top role at the district AGM this afternoon, when she was proposed by Cllr Paschal McEvoy (FF) and seconded by Cllr Pádraig Fleming (FF).

Aged in her 30s, she takes over the chair from Independent councillor Aidan Mullins from Portarlington.

Cllr Phelan narrowly won the last seat from party colleague and then-sitting councillor PJ Kelly in the 2024 local elections, in a gargantuan battle that included a recount when she led by just 17 votes after the tenth count.

By contrast, her election as MD chairperson (cathaoirleach) was a foregone conclusion in county hall today, as part of a five-year pact between Independents and party members.

Cllr Phelan is the only Fine Gael member on the six-seat municipal council, which has two Fianna Fáil representatives and three Independents – Cllr Ben Brennan, former Sinn Féin member Cllr Mullins and former Fine Gael member Cllr Aisling Moran.

Cllr McEvoy said it was “a particular honour” to nominate a fellow Stradbally ‘townie’ for the chair, adding that Cllr Phelan made excellent contributions to the council over the past year.

Cllr Fleming agreed that the new cathaoirleach showed her mettle and was “very incisive” during her first year.

Congratulating his successor, Cllr Mullins said she was “calm, collected, incisive and personable” and no one had any doubt that she would do an excellent job.

Describing Cllr Mullins as “a hard act to follow”, Cllr Phelan said she was delighted to accept the role and added: “It’s a particular honour to be elected chairperson of my own municipal district.” 

The role of vice-chairperson went to Cllr Brennan, who was proposed and seconded by his fellow Independents. The Graiguecullen-based councillor commented: “Bar the little spats, we all work well together. When we go out the door, it’s all forgotten. What happens in the chamber stays in the chamber.” 

All councillors paid tributes to Cllr Mullins for his efficiency and fairness in the chair over the past year. Cllr McEvoy told him: “I think you did an impossible job and you deserve an Oscar.” 

Cllr Moran said: “You treated everyone equally and that’s the most important thing. While I might not have liked all the times you told me to shut up and sit down, you did a fantastic job!”