Cross-border celebration for council chair
There was a large attendance at a special celebration evening in Monaghan town last Sunday to mark the election of the first Sinn Féin Chairperson of Monaghan County Council in 100 years of local government, Councillor Brian McKenna. The Mayor of Derry, Cathal Crumley, the Chairperson of Leitrim County Council, Michael Colreavy, the Vice-Chairperson of Cavan County Council, Charlie Boylan, a number of other Sinn Fein councillors from both sides of the border joined the Eurovision representative Eamon Toal and band.
The formal presentation to Brian McKenna was made by his colleague Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. Additional presentations were made by Cllr. Noel Keelan and Cllr. Brian MacUaid who presented Brian's wife Dympna with flowers.
Derry Mayor Cathal Crumley spoke on behalf of all the elected representatives present and congratulated Brian and his colleagues on the success of Sinn Féin in Counties Monaghan and Cavan. Mayor Crumley invited the Monaghan Cathaoirleach to return the visit at a special event in Derry's historic Guildhall later in the year. In response the Monaghan County Council Cathaoirleach thanked all who had supported him since his first election to the Council and looked forward to continuing to aid the development of County Monaghan during the remainder of his term in the chair and beyond.
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)