NEWLY-elected Cathaoirleach of Limerick’s Metropolitan District, Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon believes it is time to reset the dial and make the local authority more efficient and relevant in Limerick City.
The long-serving councillor beat out Sinn Féin councillor Sharon Benson for the coveted council position by a vote of 15 votes to six in City Hall last Friday (June 28) to secure the post.
He told council members that the Cathaoirleach role is one he never previously held in his 33-year political career.
The Fianna Fáil man was not at all happy that he did not have the opportunity to wear a ceremonial robe on the day and expressed disappointment that the maces were not present in the chamber for their historic and traditional value.
“Even the name, the Metropolitan District does not reflect the importance of our role and is not clearly understood by the people of Limerick. A council elected by more than 110,000 people, I think we deserve to get greater recognition, and the public need to understand it a lot more,” Cllr O’Hanlon opined.
“It’s fine having districts out in the county, but I don’t think this is a district, the Metropolitan area.”
Cllr O’Hanlon also stated that he would like to see the trade districts in the county developing to their full potential, but not at the expense of the capital of the region.
He claimed that, in the county as a while, “most of the funding from the rates comes from the Metropolitan District, and to be quite honest, sometimes I do get annoyed. We have had full council meetings where I hear some of the county colleagues giving out that we get too much in the city, when in actual fact, we’re not even getting our fair share.”
“So I am putting down a marker for that now, and the 21 of us here need to be united as a council in making sure Limerick City and the Metropolitan area is properly funded, and that we are fair to the county people as well.”
Cllr O’Hanlon will serve as Cathaoirleach of the Metropolitan District for a one-year term, presiding over local council meetings.
Cllr Fergus Kilcoyne (FF) was elected Leas Cathaoirleach of the Metropolitan district, beating Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan by a vote of 14 to six.
The Cathaoirligh of all Limerick’s ddistricts were elected at their respective AGM’s last week.
In Adare-Rathkeale, Cllr Adam Teskey (FG) was elected Cathaoirleach and Cllr Stephen Keary (FG) was elected Leas Cathaoirleach.
Councillor Liam Galvin (FG) was elected Cathaoirleach of the Newcastle West Municipal District and John Sheahan (FG) was elected Leas Cathaoirleach.
In Cappamore-Kilmallock, Councillor Martin Ryan (FF) will chair the meetings as Cathaoirleach for the next 12 months, while Councillor Greg Conway (FG) was named the new Leas Cathaoirleach.
