Reilly elected Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council
Veteran Navan Fianna Fáil councillor Tommy Reilly has been elected Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council for the second time in his career.
Almost two decades after he first held the title in 2004, the Fianna Fáil councillor took over the chains from outgoing cathaoirleach, independent Cllr Nick Killian, at Meath County Council's AGM at Buvinda House this morning.
Cllr Paul McCabe was elected leas-cathaoirleach, taking over from Cllr Mike Bray, and in doing so, became the youngest councillor to hold the title in the county.
Newly elected cathaoirleach Cllr Reilly, who was nominated by party colleague Cllr Damien O'Reilly for the position, was challenged by Fine Gael's Sharon Tolan and independent councillor Joe Bonner.
In nominating Cllr Tolan, Cllr Gerry O'Connor said it was the last chance to have a female in the role during this council term and felt it was appropriate given that 35 per cent of representatives on the Council are female.
Cllr Reilly managed to secure 20 votes needed for a majority with Cllr Tolan getting 12 votes, Cllr Bonner got five and there were two councillors absent and one abstention.
In his acceptance speech, Cllr Reilly thanked the two candidates that went against him and said it was great to have competition and they were two very good candidates and trojan workers in their area.
He thanked the management of the council for being a great team, for being so accessible down the years and congratulated new acting chief executive Fiona Lawless and wished outgoing chief executive Jackie Maguire the best of luck.
Cllr Reilly said in all his years in the council he has had ups and downs but always tried "to work with everyone irrespective of their parties or their policies".
He thanked his family and paid tribute to his wife Doreen who he recalled first meeting over 50 years ago.
Speaking to the Meath Chronicle after his election, Cllr Reilly said he looked forward to seeing the long awaited new building for St Mary's Special School coming to fruition during his term.
"One of the great things that is coming to fruition and I hope that I'll be at the opening of as Cathaoirleach, is St Mary's Special School in Johnstown. This is something I have been working on along with many other people for the past 25 years and I'm so thrilled to see where it is at today."
He also said more sporting, educational and recreational facilities need to be provided in new residential areas across the county citing Johnstown as an example where there is nowhere for children to go, and said a community hub is needed not just for young people but for older people as well.
Since he joined Navan Town Council as an urban councillor in 1997, Cllr Tommy Reilly has seen the highs and lows of a political career. He first joined Navan Town Council in 1997 when he was co-opted to the vacancy created by the retirement of Danny Fitzpatrick.
A native of St Ultan’s Terrace, Navan, and now living at Ardsallagh, he worked as a sales manager with Spicer’s for over 20 years, before going into the newsagency business in Ashbourne and Navan.
He was elected to the Navan urban seat in 1999, and to the county council, topping the Navan poll, a feat he repeated in 2004. But he was to suffer the ignominy of the loss of his town council seat in 2009, as well as a political controversy over land ownership that saw him dropped from the Fianna Fail ticket in the 2005 Dail by-election in Meath. However, he has endured on the county council, serving as Cathaoirleach in 2004-'05, as well as a number of periods as mayor of Navan.
Meanwhile, Cllr Paul McCabe, a Fianna Fáil councillor in the Kells Municipal District was elected leas-cathaoirleach. He was nominated for the role along with Cllr Tolan, Cllr Bonner and Cllr Michael Gallagher and was deemed elected after receiving 21 votes.
Cllr McCabe said as the youngest member of Meath County Council, it was a particular honour to take up the role and he looked forward to working with his everyone in the year ahead.
Councillors also congratulated outgoing Cathaoirleach Cllr Nick Killian on a successful year paying tribute to the professionalism, knowledge and dignity he brought to the role, describing him a great ambassador for the county and tributes were also paid to outgoing leas-cathaoirleach Mike Bray.