Warnock embraces “exciting time” to be taking over as Cathaoirleach

It was a proud day for Kinlough and the Warnock family last Friday with Cllr Justin Warnock being elected as the new Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council.

The Fianna Fáil councillor replaced outgoing Cathaoirleach Fine Gael's Ita Reynolds-Flynn after he was proposed by Cllr Mary Bohan and seconded by Cllr Seán McDermott

In the election of the Leas Cathaoirleach, Fianna Fail Cllr Caillian Ellis proposed his party colleague Cllr Paddy O'Rourke for the position and this was seconded by Cllr Reynolds-Flynn.

In his speech to his council colleagues and in front of his extended family, Cllr Warnock said he was “humbled and honoured to take on the role of Cathaoirleach” and praised his predecessor “for her excellent work over the past 12 months.”

Many of the councillors took the opportunity to welcome Cllr Warnock and also to praise Cllr Reynolds-Flynn for her commitment to the role over the past 12 months.

Councillor Des Guckian left the meeting in protest.

Cllr Reynolds-Flynn spoke of how she was honoured to be Cathaoirleach for the previous 12 months and described it as a “positive year” and thanked the executive as well as her fellow councillors for their support.

Many of the councillors paid tribute to the Fine Gael woman with Cllr Enda McGloin describing her as “fair” to everyone, while Cllr Paddy O'Rourke complimented her “positive view of the county.”

Lar Power, Leitrim County Council Chief Executive, added that Cllr Reynolds-Flynn had a “hugely successful year” in the role.

New Cathaoirleach

Cllr Mary Bohan said, “I was delighted to propose Cllr Justin Warnock for the role of Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council and I have no doubt that he will be a great ambassador for the county as well as our own Municipal District of Manorhamilton. He is passionate about his work.”

Cllr Warnock, during his speech, thanked his wife Jackie, daughter Megan and sons Ryan and Kyle as well as son-in-law Aodhan along with his mother Eileen and sisters, brothers and extended family who all turned up on the day to celebrate alongside the Kinlough man.

He paid tribute to his grandfather Alec Warnock, a lieutenant in Óglaigh na hÉireann during the War of Independence (1917-1922) who went on to fight for the anti-treaty side and was taken captive after a battle near Lennox's Bridge in September 1922. He was released a year later and died in 1943.

He said that it is an exciting time to be taking over the reins as Cathaoirleach with “further growth in population and employment opportunities” and the “€3m re-development of a business campus at the former MBNA offices in Carrick-on-Shannon, the extension of the Food Hub in Drumshanbo, the construction works at the Old Abbey Hotel in Dromahair and the proposed sports complex in Carrick-on-Shannon.”

He added that these projects, along with other works that are in the pipeline are “all positive signs of the confidence which is growing in Ireland's most rural county.”

He said that he will advocate for “the small family and indigenous businesses as they are the lifeblood of many of the towns, villages and rural communities” adding that as a farmer himself, he believed “we must continue to promote farming and the family farm.”

He continued that the Leitrim Sustainable Agriculture Group “has the potential to be a platform to advance a sustainable farming way of life” while protecting biodiversity and enhancing water bodies.

He said that the county's “rich arts culture” must be promoted along with the preservation of Leitrim's built and natural heritage from “unwanted developments.”

Cllr Warnock stressed that the county's older generation need “better GP and healthcare services, with more car funded services to our hospitals and clinics” adding that he believed more “recreational facilities for the older and isolated members in our communities” are a priority.

He said that it was vital that every child “gets the best out of living in Leitrim” and there must be state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor facilities for young people suitable also for those with additional needs.

He continued that tourism is in it's “infancy in Leitrim” and the council has a key role to play in the development of the county's tourism potential.

He stressed that he will promote the R280 road and also the 'Hidden Heartlands' of Leitrim with “some of the most beautiful landscapes that this county has to offer.”

He said that “spiraling” rents need to be addressed as well as the housing needs in the county “as we never want to see homelessness take root” adding that unoccupied and derelict houses need to be brought back into use.

The new Cathaoirleach spoke of how people of his mother's generation made many sacrifices and “we must never underestimate the financial commitment our diaspora made to their families all across this great county.”

“We must continue to build and strengthen our ties with Leitrim's global community and make connections with people from townlands that no longer have inhabitants; their stories must be told,” he said.

Cllr Warnock added that one of the county's greatest strengths is “the warmth of our hospitality, something which has been handed down from generation to generation” and that he was greatly looking forward to the next 12 months.