O'Ryan, Geoghegan, Tobin and O'Sullivan to lead Councils.

Ballymacarbry based Councillor Michael J. O’Ryan was elected Cathaoirleach at the inaugural meeting of the Comeragh Municipal District Council in Dungarvan recently.

Cllr. O’Ryan who took his father Kieran seat on Waterford County Council in 2009 and was elected to the newly formed Waterford City and County Council in May with the highest quota of first preference votes across the five electoral divisions.

Cllr. O’Ryan was purposed for the position of Cathaoirleach by fellow Fianna Fail councillor John O’Leary who was also elected to Waterford County Council for the first time in 2009 and was seconded by another Fianna Fail Councillor Mary Butler who was elected for the first time in May at the first time of asking.

John O’Leary was elected Leas Cathaoirleach. The Kilmeaden man is currently Vice Chairman of the Waterford County G.A.A. Board.

He was purposed for the position by Mary Butler and was seconded by Fine Gael’s Sean Power from Rathgormack.

Meanwhile Damien Geoghegan who served as the last Mayor of County Waterford was unanimously elected Cathaoirleach of the Dungarvan/Lismore Municipal District Council.

Fellow Fine Gael Councillor Pat Nugent was unanimously elected the bodies Leas Cathaoirleach.

It means that all leadership positions on the council and its sub division are now filled.

Long Standing Fianna Fail Councillor James Tobin supported by his fellow Fianna Fail Councillors and those from Fine Gael plus Labour sole member of the new City and County Council John Pratt was elected the first Cathaoirleach of the new combined councils.

The Kilwatermoy man, a former Chairman of Waterford County GAA Board beat off the challenge of Sinn Fein’s John Hearne and Independent Davy Daniels collecting seventeen of the available votes when the new council met for the first time at the former Waterford City Council Chambers.

First time Councillor Jason Murphy (FF) was elected Leas Cathaoirleach of the new Council beating Siobhan Whelan (SF) and Joe Kelly (IND) in a contest for the position.

Tramore based Councillor Lola O’Sullivan (FG) has become the first Mayor of Waterford City Metropolitan Area, purposed for the position by her cousin John Cummins who served as Waterford City’s last Mayor.

Cllr O’Sullivan beat Mary Roche in a contest for the position collecting eleven of the eighteen votes. Two members of the Metropolitan Area abstained in the vote.

Passage East man John Carey was elected as the Metropolitan Area’s Deputy Mayor.