Killaloe's Alan O'Callaghan elected Cathaoirleach of new Clare County Council
Ennis councillor Mary Howard also elected as deputy
Clare County Council have elected their new Cathaoirleach and Leas-Cathaoirleach at the councils first AGM following the local elections earlier this month.
Councillor Alan O'Callaghan has been elected as Cathaoirleach, put forward by his Killaloe Municipal District and Fianna Fáil colleagues Pat Hayes and Pat Burke.
He takes up the chain from Killaloe's Cllr Joe Cooney.
Upon his election, Cllr O'Callaghan thanked his proposers and all his colleagues and family for their support.
"I am humbled to be elected," he said.
He welcomed the eight new councillors who were elected for the first time in June 7 but warned them that "the honeymoon ends now, today the real work begins", raising a laugh from the chamber and the public gallery, packed for the occasion.
Ennis MD Cllr Mary Howard of Fine Gael was elected as Leas-Cathaoirleach for the second time, put forward by her colleages Paul Murphy and Pat Daly.
She previously served as leas-cathaoirleach in 2020/21 during Covid 19.
"We are custodians of the citizens of our county and we take that role very seriously," she said, adding that it was "one of the highest honours you can get to represent your county".