Calls for title ‘Mayor of Killarney’ to be restored

A pact between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour yesterday ensured the election of FG Cllr Pat McCarthy as chairman of Kerry County Council.

A native of Ballymacelligott, Tralee, he defeated independent Cllr Donal Grady, Killarney, who had the support of fellow independents and Sinn Féin, on a 19-11 vote. FG Cllr Jim Finucane was elected vice-chairman.

New chairpersons for Kerry’s four municipal districts were also elected, with FF Cllr Thomas McEllistrim becoming mayor of Tralee. He defeated independent Cllr Sam Locke on a 6-2 vote.

Cllr McEllistrim called for city status for Tralee, as the county town, saying it had a similar population to Kilkenny city. He would be seeking free parking in Tralee.

FG Cllr Bobby O’Connell was unanimously elected chairman of Killarney Municipal District. His predecessor, FF Cllr John Joe Culloty, used the title “mayor’’ and he said he would continue with that.

FF Cllr Jimmy Moloney was also unanimously elected chairman of Listowel Municipal District, and FG Cllr Patrick Connor Scarteen was similarly elected in South and West Kerry Municipal District.

Four members of the Connor Scarteen family, from Kenmare, have served on the council but he is the first to take the chair.

The question of calling chairpersons mayors was raised, with councillors calling for the term ‘mayor’ to be given official status, especially in Killarney. Cllr Bobby O’Connell, a Castleisland publican, said he would lobby Environment Minister Alan Kelly to restore the office of Killarney town mayor abolished along with the local town council last year.

“A town of Killarney’s international standing in tourism needs a mayor to welcome visitors and attend the many important and formal functions in the town,’’ he said. “I believe visitors expect to see a mayor and the term, ‘chairman’, does not have the same impact.”