Cllr McKevitt elected Leas Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Municipal District

Cllr Andrea McKevitt was elected Leas Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Municipal District at the municipal district's Annual Meeting on Tuesday evening in the Dundalk Town Hall.

Following the election of Cllr Robert Nash as Cathaoirleach at the Annual Meeting, nominations were taken for the role of Leas Cathaoirleach. Cllr Seán Kelly nominated his Fianna Fáil colleague, Cllr Andrea McKevitt, while Cllr Fiona Mhic Conchoille nominated her Sinn Féin colleague, Cllr Kevin Meenan for the role.

A role call vote was then taken, with Cllrs Emma Coffey, Ciarán Fisher, Seán Kelly, Shane McGuinness, Andrea McKevitt, Robert Nash and John Reilly, voting for Cllr McKevitt. Cllrs Marianne Butler, Fiona Mhic Conchoille, Kevin Meenan, and Antóin Watters voted for Cllr Watters, with Cllr Maeve Yore abstaining.

With seven votes to four, Cllr McKevitt was elected to the role. The Fianna Fáil councillor was congratulated by Cllrs Seán Kelly, John Reilly, Kevin Meenan, Marianne Butler, Ciarán Fisher and Maeve Yore on being elected Leas Cathaoirleach, with Director of Service Thomas McEvoy, congratulating her on behalf of Louth County Council.

Following the meeting, Cllr McKevitt told the Dundalk Democrat that, "it is a great achievement here this evening, a year on from being elected in my own right. I'm delighted to working with Robbie (Cllr Nash) now this year, and I am sure he will be a wonderful ambassador for the town. I'm sure I'll keep a balance, keeping Cooley on the agenda."

On the cooperation between councillors for the benefit of the county, Cllr McKevitt said that Cllr Nash had "a great first meeting, and I think the cooperation across the Chamber was very showing and I hope its a good, fruitful year for us all. Cooperation and collaboration is key."