'Father' of Laois County Council celebrates 40 years in office

Pictured: FIanna Fáil Cllr Seamus McDonald

placeholder image — Pictured: FIanna Fáil Cllr Seamus McDonald

Fianna Fáíl Cllr Seamus McDonald is Laois' longest serving Councillor

On Friday June 20, Rosenallis Fianna Fáil Cllr Seamus McDonald marks 40 years as an elected representative to Laois County Council.

Cllr McDonald was first elected in June of 1985, has been successfully elected in every local election since.

As the longest serving County Councillor in Laois, Cllr McDonald was recently dubbed 'the father of Laois County Council' by his colleague Cllr Conor Bergin.

Cllr McDonald first joined Fianna Fail as a teenager, and used to cycle a bike to local Cumann meetings with his father Jim.

Pictured: Cllr Seamus McDonald with supporters at the 2024 local election count centre in Portlaoise

He was first elected in June 1985 in the Tinnahinch, then Mountmellick, now Borris-in-Ossory / Mountmellick Electoral area on his first attempt. He has since ran and been successfully reelected in each election since; 1991, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024.

Cllr McDonald was Chairperson of Laois County Council 1996-1997, and oversaw the opening of the Portlaoise bypass with then Taoiseach John Bruton in 1997.

Pictured: The Tinnahinch Electoral Area Fianna Fáil candidates in June of 1985

He has been an active advocate for many organisations in the Rosenallis - Clonaslee area and throughout the Slieve Bloom Mountain area, known for his strong personal relationships with his many constituents over his 40 year tenure.

In the 2019 local election, Cllr McDonald won the highest amount of first preference votes in the District. However, in 2024 the Cllr retained his seat on the 10th count through transfers from Fine Gael candidate Cllr Paddy Buggy.

While stepping down as Cathaoirleach at a recent Borris-in-Ossory / Mountmellick Muncipal District, fellow Cllrs commended Cllr McDonald on his 40 years of service.

"I would like to pay tribute to you, what a fine man you are," Independent Cllr Ollie Clooney praised.

Pictured: Cllr Seamus McDonald and Cllr Ollie Clooney

"There hasn't been a cross word out of you. You have done your job very well, and we are all very proud of you".

Fianna Fáil Cllr John King praised Cllr McDonald for his 'years and years' of experience, and for his calm demeanour.

"You have gotten a lot of work done in a very positive way, and you have a brilliant way of dealing with people," Cllr King said.

"I wish you all the best in the future, you are an experienced candidate and it doesn't go unnoticed," he said.

Cllr Conor Bergin, incoming Cathaoirleach, commended Cllr McDonald on his successful year.

"You are an experienced Chair, I know that you are the longest serving councillor on the Council, and if you don't mind me saying, you're the father of the Council," Cllr Bergin said.

"You're 40 years here Friday next, and you always make sure that everyone gets their fair say," he said.

Pictured: Cllr Conor Bergin and Cllr Seamus McDonald

Fianna Fáil Cllr Paddy Bracken commended his fellow Fianna Fáil Cllr.

"I just want to thank you for chairing the meetings for the past 12 months, very effectively and calmly," Cllr Bracken praised.

"I would like to acknowledge that it's 12 months on since we were re-elected, and that it's forty years since you were first elected to the Council in June of 1985. Well done on your hard work throughout the years, it's a great achievement," he said.

Independent Cllr James Kelly expressed his congratulations to Cllr McDonald.

"Well done Seamus on your work over the past year, you have been very fair to everybody," he said.

"Over the forty years, you have gone through a lot of directors of services, you went through two this year alone. Hopefully you won't be going through any more. You are a good friend outside of this chamber as well, congratulations on your successful year."

Pictured: Seán Moloney TD, Cllr Seamus McDonald and former Taoiseach Brian Cowen

Angela McEvoy, Director of Services with the Council, thanked Cllr McDonald for the work he undertook in a 'cool, calm and collected' manner.

Cllr McDonald thanked his fellow Councillors and Council staff for their kind words, and wished Cllr Bergin all the best in succeeding him as the Cathaoirleach for the District.