125th anniversary of local government and Meath Co Council

125 years of local government in Meath was marked recently when councillors and management met for their monthly meeting at Buvinda House in Navan.

The council was established in 1899 under the 1898 Local Government (Ireland) Act. The council received constitutional recognition in 1999. The council is responsible for housing and community, roads and transportation, urban planning and development, amenity and culture and environment.

Council Chief Executive Kieran Kehoe told the meeting that the council had faced years of consolidation and challenge. The council sitting between 1920 and 1925 faced particular challenges following the battle with the British empire and the tragedies of the Civil War.

Looking back on the history of the last century and a quarter, there had been a profound transformation in government and the council found itself deeply indebted to many men and women who answered the call to serve their county and their country. “As we move into the challenges of the next 125 years there are challenges that we must all face”.

He said that in his few months in the post of chief executive he found that matters in the Meath council were conducted in a pleasant and harmonious way, albeit there were differences in political allegiances – and that’s what democracy is. While he was here just a few months, he had made it an ambition to make Meath a better place for all.