Carroll elected as West Cork district chairman

BY JACKIE KEOGH

SKIBBEREEN public representative, Cllr Joe Carroll (FF) is the new chairman of the Municipal District of West Cork.

Cllr Carroll was proposed and seconded by his Fianna Fáil colleagues, Patrick Gerard Murphy and Cllr Christopher O’Sullivan, and he was elected unopposed at the Municipal District meeting that was held in Skibbereen.

The election proved to be rather humorous because Joe literally nudged Christopher to second the motion, and Cllr O’Sullivan explained his hesitation saying: ‘I was waiting for a speech from Patrick.’

Patrick duly obliged, saying: ‘Joe has served Skibbereen so well, and for so long.’

The outgoing chairman, Cllr Declan Hurley, called on Joe to stand for a hug (he was joking) and the official handing over of the chain of office and while the pair were mugging for the camera, the Dunmanway-based independent councillor told the Dunmanway native: ‘Just remember, Dunmanway is under control.’

It was funny and the moment was captured for posterity on video. It can be seen on The Southern Star Facebook page.

Cllr Hurley proposed Cllr Danny Collins (Ind) from Bantry for the role of vice-chair. The motion was seconded by fellow townsman Cllr Patrick Gerard Murphy and Cllr Collins was elected unopposed.