Councillor Gary Doherty elected Cathaoirleach of Lifford Stranorlar MD

Councillor Gary Doherty of Sinn Féin has been elected Cathaoirleach of the Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District (MD) at its AGM.

It was the first meeting of the MD since the local elections, held on June 7. The results of that election saw two new members joining the Lifford Stranorlar MD cast of six - poll-topping Independent Michael Scanlon and the council’s youngest member, Dakota McMheanman of Sinn Féin.

The new MD also includes successfully re-elected councillors, Martin Harley of Fine Gael; Frank McBrearty Jnr, independent, and Patrick McGowan of Fianna Fáil.

The meeting was initially chaired by leas-chathaoirleach of the last MD, McGowan as its outgoing Chair, Liam Doherty, did not seek re-election earlier this month.

Newly elected councillor and Sinn Féin party colleague Dakota McMheanman proposed Doherty as Cathaoirleach and this was seconded by Harley.

On the handing over to the new chair, the position of leas-chathaoirleach, was voted upon with Harley being elected to the position on the proposal of McGowan and seconded by MacMheanman.

Doherty spoke of the “great honour” of being selected to his new position while offering congratulations to the two new councillors to the municipal district.

He also had glowing tributes to former Sinn Féin councillor Liam Doherty and he also was wholesome in his praise of Fianna Fail’s Gerry Crawford, who lost his seat after decades of service on Donegal County Council.

He thanked the members for electing him to the position: “Obviously it is a great honour to be elected to the role of cathaoirleach of this Municipal District.”

Referring to the two new councillors he added: “It is great to have you both on board. I have absolutely no doubt that both of you will be excellent public representatives and work with the other members to represent the people of the Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District well and that is something that we have always prided ourselves upon on this MD, that we all worked together and worked towards the same goal and we all have the interest of the people we represent at heart.

“I also want to thank the outgoing cathaoirleach Liam Doherty who worked with me for ten years on the council, but as a party colleague, I have known Liam for about 25 years now. 

“Liam has been a tireless worker. He was never one for appearing on the media or public appearances like that, but he always worked quietly in the background and always got the job done.”

Referring to Gerry Crawford, he added: “I only really got to know Gerry when I was elected to the council in November 2013. And Gerry throughout was an absolute gentleman. 

“I don’t think anybody could have had a bad word to say about Gerry. He always worked well with everybody, both elected members and staff and he was a very good councillor. 

“Anything that Gerry said was always sensible and it was always a good contribution and worthwhile. Those of us who served with Gerry will certainly miss him.”    

McGowan, Harley and senior council staff member Patsy Lafferty, all wished to be associated with the remarks of Cathaoirleach Doherty.