Poll topper Seamus McGrath elected as chair of Cork's Carrigaline Municipal District

Just as his brother, Finance Minister Michael McGrath, was preparing to be confirmed as nominee to be Ireland’s next EU commissioner, Seamus McGrath was elected unopposed to the position of chairperson of the Carrigaline Municipal District Council on Monday.

The Fianna Fáil councillor topped the poll in the recent local elections, gaining the highest number of first preference votes of any elected councillor and was the only nominee to fill the role of chairperson for the municipal district of Carrigaline which also includes Crosshaven.

Mr McGrath, who is widely tipped to contest the next general election in place of his brother in Cork South Central, was nominated by the outgoing chairperson, his party colleague Audrey Buckley, and seconded by Jack White of Fine Gael.

In his remarks, the new chairperson gently chided his predecessor for not allowing councillors the chance to congratulate her on her term, before handing over the chain of office.

Successful

“Before I say anything about myself, I think it was remiss of the outgoing chair not to give us an opportunity to acknowledge her 12 months in the role,” he said congratulating Ms Buckley on a ‘very successful year’.

“It was a busy year and a lot was accomplished and it was the year leading into an election as well, which isn’t easy.

“She certainly was true to form in working with the community and volunteers out there, putting the best side forward from the municipal district point of view.”

The new chairperson said he was “very honoured” to take up the role and said he intended to continue in the same vein as his predecessor, showing the good work being carried out by the Municipal District Council.

“Without going into individual projects, we all know from the agenda here each month and the municipal district officer’s report the extensive work being done.”

Fine Gael’s Jack White was elected as deputy chairperson of the Municipal District Council.