Youghal Town Council has elected Fianna Fail councillor Mary Linehan Foley as its mayor for the coming year. The councillor was elected unopposed having been proposed by party colleague Cllr Sammy Revins and seconded by Fianna Fail Cllr Eoin Coyne at July’s AGM.
By Christy Parker | Photo: Michael Hussey www.youghalonline.com Email: news@youghalonline.com

Cllr Coyne was then proposed as deputy mayor by Cllr Revins and seconded by Cllr Linehan Foley. Again no alternatives came forward amongst. Seven councillors attended the meeting, they being Cllrs Linehan Foley, McLellan (outgoing mayor), Murray, Hennessy, Burke, Coyne and Revins.

Cllr Linehan Foley has been a member of Youghal Town council since 1999. She has previously served as mayor in 2002/3 and 2005/6. The daughter of legendary councillor, the late Paddy Linehan and his wife, Maureen, the new mayor expressed regret that her parents were absent to see her assume the chair once again. She is married with five children. Cllr Coyne was first elected to the council in 2009.

Outgoing Sinn Fein mayor Sandra McLellan was unanimously praised for a tenure that she had “thoroughly enjoyed.” She said that despite difficult budgetary times, the council had managed to secure funding for and reflected on highlights that included the town walls, quay walls, phase 2 of enterprise centre, continuation of heritage regeneration. The green light for long awaited waste water treatment plant and the multicoloured painting enhancement scheme served as further highlights.

Monday meetings still on hold

Earlier, the council opted to retain the Tuesday morning council meeting arrangement into July at least, Cllr Michelle Hennessy proposal that the Tuesday sittings continue in pending a review next month, was accepted.

The meetings were shifted to Tuesday mornings in lieu of the public sector pay dispute, which has recently been settled. However, Cllr Hennessy said that “as a mother of four” Tuesday’s timeframe suited her better for the summer duration and she sought support for the retention. Some councillors have, to their surprise, found Tuesday mornings more amenable but others find the opposite applies. One councillor, Labour’s Donie Daly, has been unable to attend any council meeting since April due to work commitments. All things considered, it appears that July will host the final breakfast sitting.