Roads and houses the priorities for John

COUNCILLOR John Sheahan has zoned in on housing, roads, and access to the county as his main priorities for his coming 12 months as Kerry County Council (KCC) Cathaoirleach.

The Killarney-based Fine Gael Councillor outlined this in his opening address as Cathaoirleach in the Council Chambers in Tralee on Friday.

“It is an enormous honour and privilege for me to have been elected Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council,” he said. “I hope I will serve as a fair and effective Cathaoirleach for the twelve months ahead and I am sure, with your support, we can achieve a lot.

“I believe we need to enhance our road network for cyclists, and I would very much like to see more cycle lanes being provided across the county.

“I have also noticed in my work TIdy Towns that a lot of the edges of our main roads are in a poor and dangerous condition and this is something I would like to see addressed.”

He went on to underline interest in progressing bypasses in Macroom and Adare, as well as addressing the length of Kerry’s housing waiting list.

Cllr Sheahan’s Fine Gael colleague Cllr Patrick Connor-Scarteen will serve as Leas-Cathaoirleach.

Chains of office were also passed on in the four Municipal Districts. Fine Gael’s Cllr Séamus Mac Gearailt is the new Cathaoirleach of the South and West Kerry Municipal District, while Fianna Fáil councillors took the helm in the other three districts. Cllr Norma Foley is the new Cathaoirleach in Tralee, while Cllrs John Lucid and Niall Kelleher will fulfil the equivalent roles in Listowel and Killarney respectively.

New Kerry Cathaoirleach Fine Gael County Councillor John Sheahan

Fianna FáilCllr Norma Foley (Cathaoirleach of Tralee) with her husband Denis McGuire.

Fianna Fáil Cllr NIall Kelleher(Killarney Cathaoirleach) with his step-daughter Portia Gordon.

ABOVE: Fine Gael Cllr Seamus Cosaí MacGearailt (Cathaoirleach South and West Kerry).

Fianna Fáil Cllr John Lucid (Cathaoirleach Listowel Municipal District).