New Cathaoirleach elected to Cork County Council’s Western Division

Fianna Fáil councillor Joe Carroll has been elected as the new Cathaoirleach of Cork County Council’s Western Division. Skibbereen-based Mr Carroll has recently completed a one-year term as Mayor of County Cork and will chair meetings of the Western Division for the next 12 months. 

He was proposed by party colleague Patrick Gerard Murphy and seconded by Deirdre Kelly, also Fianna Fáil.

Mr Carroll succeeds Kinsale-based Fine Gael councillor Marie O’Sullivan in the position, and was elected by his colleagues unopposed. Also elected was Independent Ireland’s Daniel Sexton, who will serve a 12-month term as Leas-Cathaoirleach of the Western Division. 

Mr Sexton, who was first elected as a councillor at the last local elections, was proposed by Deirdre Kelly and seconded by Fine Gael’s Caroline Cronin, and was also elected unopposed.

Outgoing Cathaoirleach Marie O’Sullivan paid tribute to council staff who supported her in the role and thanked her colleagues for their “courtesy” during her tenure, adding she looked forward to see “the Joe show” in the year ahead. 

Mr Carroll commended Ms O’Sullivan on a “brilliant” year as chair, adding she was consistently fair and good-humoured throughout the year.

Mr Carroll said he looked forward to holding the office of Cathaoirleach again. Mr Sexton said it was an honour for him to be elected Leas-Cathaoirleach, having only been elected as a councillor for the first time just over 12 months ago.

This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme