This article is from page 57 of the 2013-07-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 57 JPG
LONG serving Fine Gael councillor Mary Coote Ryan will serve as the last Mayor of Ennis Town Council after she was selected for the post unopposed last week.
Cllr Coote Ryan, who was first elected to the council in 1990, was elected after party colleague Mary Howard withdrew her name from the race at the council’s annual general meeting on Tuesday night.
Cllr Coote Ryan was proposed as Mayor by the town’s new Deputy Mayor, Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind). Her nomination was seconded by Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind). She replaces outgoing Mayor, Cllr Peter Considine (FF). It will be the third time in her political life that Cllr Coote Ryan will serve as the town’s Mayor.
She told the meeting that it was a wonderful honour to be chosen as Mayor on a historic night for the local authority. Pledging to do her best for Ennis, Cllr Coote Ryan said the night was both a “happy and sad” occasion for her, a reference to her late brother Paddy whom she replaced on the council 23 years ago. “I’m an old townie and I absolutely adore my town. With all your help and support, I hope I will do well for the town,” added Cllr Coote Ryan.
Cllr Mary Howard withdrew from the race saying she the last thing she wanted was “more division in the council”. Cllr Howard was nominated for Mayor by fellow Fine Gael councillor, Johnny Flynn and seconded by Cllr Paul O’Shea (Ind).
Cllr Howard paid tribute to Cllr Coote Ryan. She said, “There is no greater honour that to serve your town as Mayor. It is a milestone.” There was an element controversy in the election of Deputy Mayor.
Cllr Frankie Neylon and Cllr Howard were both nominated for the post. Cllr Neylon was elected on a 53 vote after securing the backing of Cllr Coote Ryan.
Cllr Coote Ryan said she voted for Cllr Neylon instead of her Fine Gael colleague because he had nominated her for Mayor. Cllr Neylon was elected with the votes of councillors, Brennan, Guilfoyle, Considine and Coote Ryan. Cllr Howard won the votes of councillors Flynn and O’Shea. Fianna Fáil councillor Brian Meaney was not present at the meeting.
The election sparked a brief row between councillors Neylon and Flynn. The new Deputy Mayor claimed Cllr Flynn had accused him of “rigging” the vote for Mayor.
“I would’ve supported Cllr Howard only for the remarks of Cllr Flynn,” he added.
This claim was strongly denied by Cllr Flynn who later congratulated Cllr Neylon on his success, saying he had served the town with “great efficiency”.