New councillor is welcomed to Ballina Municipal District
Cllr Marie-Therese Duffy (front row, second from right) was warmly welcomed by her fellow councillors, council staff and officials at last week's municipal district meeting. Her brother Senator Mark Duffy was also in attendance.
Newly co-opted Independent councillor Marie-Therese Duffy was warmly welcomed to her first Ballina Municipal District meeting by her colleagues last Monday,
Cllr Annie May Reape welcomed the addition of another female councillor around the table and said Cllr Duffy, who was co-opted to the seat left vacant by her brother Mark following his election to Seanad Éireann, has a bright future as a local representative in Ballina.
“We are getting there at last with the gender balance, it is now 4-2. We had a workshop prior to our meeting today and I can tell Marie-Therese is already very well tuned in,” she said. “We’ll all work together for the betterment of Ballina.”
Cllr Joe Faughnan said it was great to have Cllr Duffy on board and congratulated Mark Duffy, who was in attendance, on his elevation to the Seanad.
Cllr Jarlath Munnelly said Cllr Duffy had big shoes to fill but would be up to the challenge.
Cllr John O’Hara said it was great to have someone local in the Ballina Chamber and better again to have a young person involved.
Cathaoirleach of the district Cllr Michael Loftus said it was a "special day" for Cllr Duffy.
“We look forward to working with you for the next four and a half years. That brother of yours caused us awful headaches and I hope he’s causing headaches above in Dublin now,” he joked. “Mark always had the municipal district and County Mayo at heart and I want to wish him well,” Cllr Loftus said.
Cllr Duffy thanked her colleagues for their words of welcome.
“I’m looking forward to working with everyone for the betterment of the district, working hard for Mayo and everyone in general,” she said.
