Republican News · Thursday 31 January 2002

Sinn Féin secure key council positions in Monaghan

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Sinn Féin in County Monaghan have, since the spectacular local election results in 1999, held almost all of the senior council positions in authorities across the county. This continued in June as AGM elections returned a Sinn Féin cathaoirleach in Monaghan Town and An Meara Bhaile in Castleblayney.

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Monaghan Town

Sean Conlon was selected unopposed as Cathaoirleach (chairperson) of Monaghan Town Council at its recent AGM. Seán was one of four Sinn Féin councillors elected to the nine-member body in 1999. He is only the second republican to hold that position, the other being Owen Smyth in this same council term.

Sean cited the realisation of some of the major projects being advanced by Monaghan Town Council as priorities during his year in office. He highlighted particularly the new swimming pool and leisure facilities for the town, the implementation of remedial works schemes on council-owned housing and the proposed upgrade to the Monaghan sewerage system. He also said that he expects the council to draw up a comprehensive plan to address the 'chronic' housing need in Monaghan.

In proposing Seán, Cllr Pádraigín Uí Mhurchadha pointed out that Sean Conlon was chairperson of the local Special Olympics host town committee, a role he carried out very successfully and earned the respect of many townspeople as a result.

Sean's election was in line with a power-sharing agreement established between all political groupings on the council following the last local elections.

Castleblayney

Sinn Féin Councillor James Cunningham was elected Cathaoirleach and An Meara Bhaile (Town Mayor) of Castleblayney following the AGM of that Town Council. Cllr Cunningham defeated Fianna Fáil's Brendan Hughes by five votes to four. He was proposed by party colleague Jackie Crowe and seconded by Independent Olive Bolger.

James has highlighted traffic management in the mid-Monaghan Town as one of his priorities for the forthcoming year. He also aims to see road-building projects commence without delay and further investment in housing in the Town.

While James Cunningham is a popular member of the Castleblayney community, he is originally from Keady in County Armagh where his brother Brian is a Sinn Féin member of Armagh District Council. Tributes and best wishes have therefore been extended from republicans throughout Counties Monaghan and Armagh.

Carrickmacross

"The days of Fianna Fáil domination are coming to an end in the Farney capital of Carrickmacross." So said the sole Sinn Féin representative of Carrickmacross Town Council when he was elected as An Leas-Meara Bhaile (Deputy Mayor) last week. Fianna Fáil currently hold five of the nine seats and have held all major council positions since the 1999 elections and have consistently refused to power-share.

Last year, for the first time, they allowed the Leas-Meara title to cross the floor to a Fine Gael member.

When Independent Councillor Vincent Martin proposed Cllr Matt Carthy and Fine Gael member Teresa Carolan seconded, the Fianna Fáil members did not nominate and therefore Carthy became the first Sinn Féin member ever to hold either of the primary council roles.

The Fianna Fáil members' decision not to contest the position of An Leas-Meara Bhaile is seen by many as an acknowledgment that their reign of overall majority in the council is coming to an end.