New mayors get to work in county

PROPER ring roads to ease congestion in Tralee is a priority of the town’s new mayor, Miriam McGillycuddy.

Health was another priority, she said, and there was a need to ensure that Kerry General Hospital, in Tralee, maintained adequate services for the county.

“We need to do a wish list of services that need to be provided locally but are not being provided and to lobby government,’ said Ms McGillycuddy, Labour, who succeeded Norma Foley, FF.

Cllr Niall O’Callaghan was elected mayor of Killarney in succession to Cllr Sheila Casey, FG.

The son of former mayor Dermot O’Callaghan (FF), he said one of his priorities would be the marketing of the town worldwide.

In Listowel, Cllr Pat Loughnane, FF, was elected mayor in succession to Cllr Anthony Curtin, SF.

On Friday, meanwhile, Independent Cllr Michael Healy-Rae is expected to be elected Kerry mayor, taking over the chain of office from mayor Ted Fitzgerald, FF.

Mr Healy-Rae and his brother, Danny, are in a voting alliance with FF and Sinn Féin.