MacGearailt elected mayor

FIANNA FÁIL Councillor Breandán MacGearailt was yesterday elected Mayor of Kerry, as the final part of a pact between FF and some Independent councillors, including the father and son Healy-Rae team, in 1999.

A member of the council since 1985, Mr MacGearailt, a farmer and retired teacher from Ballyferriter, succeeds independent councillor Michael Healy-Rae. He defeated Councillor Bobby O’Connell, FG, by 16 votes to nine. Councillor Ned O’Sullivan, FF, was elected vice-chairman. The position of mayor carries an allowance of 24,000.

In his incoming address, Mr MacGearailt referred to the controversy about one-off housing and planning in Kerry. He said he could understand the pressures in rural areas, but did not agree with selling off sites to the highest bidder.