Flynn takes top role in Westport-Belmullet

Westport councillor Peter Flynn has been elected unopposed as the Cathaoirleach of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District (MD), succeeding Cllr Seán Carey.

Cllr Flynn was proposed at last week's annual general meeting by Fine Gael colleague Cllr Gerry Coyle and seconded by Fianna Fáil Cllr Brendan Mulroy.

Accepting the chain of office, Cllr Flynn said: “This is a huge honour for me and my family and my first time as chair of the newly formed Westport-Belmullet MD. I will take great pride out of it and hope I can represent the MD as best I can. 

"All of us here have our different views, we come from different parts of the district but the one thing we have in common is we all speak our minds and have the best interests of our constituency and our MD at heart. When you see other MDs that just don’t have the unification we have, you realise it really is so important we keep working like this."

Cllr Flynn noted that Westport-Belmullet is a very large MD, stretching from Carratigue in North Mayo to Delphi on the Galway border. 

“It is a huge area to manage and only has seven public representatives. This gives you an understanding of the scale of the challenge and also for the officials to manage, so it is not easy at times.” 

Mayo Co Council's Director of Services Joanne Grehan told Cllr Flynn: “I look forward to working with you and indeed all the councillors in the MD and hope any issues that do arise, that we will use the opportunity to advance them in a positive way. Let’s just shine a light on this great MD as an ambassador for others, not just around the county but the country.” 

Independent Cllr John O’Malley was elected Leas Cathaoirleach, after being proposed by Cllr Chris Maxwell, who said he had been a great friend and colleague to him in his first year as a county councillor. The nomination was seconded by Cllr Mulroy.