Independent Ireland councillor elected chair of western committee of County Council

Independent Ireland councillor Daniel Sexton has been elected chair of the western divisional committee of Cork County Council, with Fine Gael councillor Brendan McCarthy chosen as vice-chair. Both positions went to a vote at the committee’s July meeting in Clonakilty.

Mr Sexton defeated Fianna Fáil councillor Gillian Coughlan by seven votes to five, with one councillor abstaining and one absent.

He was proposed and seconded by councillors Danny Collins (Independent Ireland) and Deirdre Kelly (Fianna Fáil), while Ms Coughlan was backed by councillors George Gill (Fiann Fáil) and Alan Coleman (Independent).

Mr Sexton thanked members following the vote. He had served as vice-chair over the previous year and spoke before the election about the honour of taking on the role. He also remembered the late councillor Joe Carroll, who he said remained greatly missed by members.

The contest for vice-chair also ended in a seven-to-five vote.

Mr McCarthy defeated Social Democrats councillor Isobel Towse, with one abstention and one absence. The Union Hall school principal was nominated by Fine Gael colleague Caroline Cronin and seconded by fellow party councillor John Michael Foley.

Ms Towse was nominated by Social Democrats councillor Ann Bambury and seconded by Ms Coughlan.

Mr McCarthy thanked those who supported him and also acknowledged Ms Towse for contesting the position.

The western divisional committee brings together councillors from the West Cork and Bandon-Kinsale municipal districts.

* Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.