County mayors take up chains of office

A FORMER school principal has been elected Mayor of Co Cork, while for the first time in 40 years a Labour man holds the chain of office in Kerry.

Fine Gael Councillor Jim Daly gave up teaching shortly after being elected to Cork County Council in 2004 to concentrate on politics and he saw that effort rewarded yesterday when he took over the office from Cllr Derry Canty.

The 37-year-old, who lives in Clonakilty, topped the poll in the Skibbereen electoral area during last year’s local elections, comfortably exceeding the quota on the first count. Yesterday his efforts were rewarded by his colleagues in County Hall when he was elected as Mayor of Cork County.