No more sibling rivalry for new mayor and his deputy

Two Killarney brothers who have opposed each other in elections and in the council chamber, have shown that blood is, truly, thicker than water.

Cllr Seán O’Grady (Lab) and Cllr Donal Grady (Ind) have unanimously been elected mayor and deputy mayor, respectively, of Killarney.

And, giving further evidence of brotherly love, they proposed each other for the positions at a Killarney Town Council meeting.

Seán O’Grady is the town’s longest-serving councillor, with 38 years unbroken service, and is chairman for the fifth time.

While stating that it will probably be his last time in the chair, he also said he hoped to visit every house in Killarney during his one-year term — an indication he may contest the next local elections in 2014.

He has also set aside one afternoon per month to meet local organisations and individuals in the town hall.

The newly-elected mayor listed the following priorities — the further development of tourism locally, a new graveyard, a district water heating system and the creation of industrial jobs.

Outgoing mayor Cllr Seán Counihan (Lab) said Killarney’s outright success in the 2011 Tidy Towns competition was one of the highlights of his year in office.

The family of the late Christy McSweeney, chairman of Killarney Town Council, meanwhile, have donated a new mayor’s chain of office.