Kerry appoints county manager

A NATIVE of Kerry has been installed as its county manager.

The appointment of engineer Tom Curran as the new county manager was warmly welcomed at yesterday’s Kerry County Council meeting.

A native of Caherciveen and a UCC graduate, Mr Curran had been acting county manager, since February, following the departure of his predecessor, Martin Riordan, who has taken up the manager’s position with Cork County Council.

Kerry mayor Ted Fitzgerald led the expressions of congratulations to Mr Curran, who has been with the council since the mid-1990s and who had held the posts of county engineer and director of roads and transportation.

Fianna Fáil councillor Paul O’Donoghue said he was delighted to welcome the appointment of a Kerryman to the position.

“A common theme about Mr Curran is that he’s responsive to councillors and that’s why we are heartened by his appointment. There’s a new sense of confidence in that we have someone from the county and who is dedicated to the county,” he added.

Council finance director John O’Connor said staff and management had faith in Mr Curran’s capacity.

“He’s acutely aware of the opportunities and challenges and has the capacity to maximise the opportunities,” he said.

Mr O’Connor said Mr Curran was the first serving, Kerry-born official in the county to become county manager, since the first county manager more than a century ago.

Mr Curran, who is in his forties, previously worked in counties Louth and Meath.

His appointment is expected to be ratified at the June council meeting.