Munnelly selected as new Cathaoirleach in Ballina

The new Cathaoirleach of Ballina Municipal District, Cllr Jarlath Munnelly, has said he intends to work in a collaborative way with his colleagues following his unopposed election to the role.

The Fine Gael councillor, a native of Killala, was nominated and seconded by party colleagues Cllr John O’Hara and Cllr Marie-Therese Duffy at last week's annual general meeting of the council. He takes over from Cllr Michael Loftus who performed the role for the past year.

“Jarlath has been here a long time and would be a great asset to us as Cathaoirleach. He is someone who can express his views on any subject,” said Cllr O’Hara, who proposed Cllr Munnelly for the position.

As there was no other proposed candidate, and with all councillors unanimously agreeing to his election, Cllr Munnelly formally accepted the chain of office and the role as Cathaoirleach and thanked his fellow councillors for their support.

“It is really nice to get an endorsement from all my colleagues. I intend to work in a collaborative way with everyone,” he said. “If we work together, we won’t go too far wrong.”

He paid tribute to his predecessor Cllr Loftus and thanked him for his work in the role of Cathaoirleach over the previous 12 months.

Cllr Munnelly was first elected to Mayo County Council in the 2004 local elections having followed his father, the late Vinny Munnelly, who served two terms on Mayo County Council from 1979 to 1991. He has successfully contested the last five local elections in the Ballina district.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Annie-May Reape was elected to the role of Leas-Cathaoirleach having been nominated by Cllr Loftus and Cllr O’Hara.

Due to a prior commitment for Cllr Munnelly, Cllr Reape will assume the role of chair for the next meeting, which takes place on National Heritage Day on Wednesday, July 16.

“I’m grateful to accept the role of Leas-Cathaoirleach,” she said. “And it seems there is already a job for me to do,” she joked.