Councillor Fergal Browne has been elected new Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council

Councillor Fergal Browne has been elected as the new Cathaoirleach for the second time in his politcal career in the Carlow County Council.

He was proposed by fellow Fine Gael Councillor Thomas Kinsella, and seconded by Ben Ward also of Fine Gael.

He was opposed in the voting by People Before Profit Councillor Adrianne Wallace.

The vote was taken by their fellow Councillors with Councillor Browne winning the voting by 11 votes to 5.

When proposing Cllr Browne, Cllr Kinsella described him as 'efficient' and as someone who 'doesn't dilly dally", and joked that all the council meetings would be finished by "half four".

After being elected Cllr Browne described the occasion as a "great honor", especially to be proposed a councillor like Thomas Kinsella.

He then joked about the seconder of the proposals age "Great to see Ben second me even though he makes me feel old". 

"I have been in politics longer than he has been alive!"

Councillor Wallace was not all too thrilled with the Fine Gael Councillor being voted as Cathaoirleach and say that the majority Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil just "trade titles" between themselves and is excited to continue to being a "thorn in the side" of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael for the next 5 years.

In the vote for the Leas Cathaoirleach, Councillor Thomas Kinsella was proposed by Cllr Brian O’Donoghue. Opposing this was Councillor John Cassin who was proposed by Cllr Will Paton. Cllr Thomas Kinsella won the vote amongst his peers by 11 votes to 5 also.