New mayors in Cork city and county named
The mayoral chains of both Cork City and County Councils sit on new shoulders this week as Cork’s new mayors settle in for the next 12 months.
In the city, Green Party councillor for Cork South-Central, Dan Boyle was elected with 22 votes at City Hall last Friday evening.
In his mayoral speech, the new Lord Mayor said: “We see ourselves as a healthy city, a learning city, a city of welcome. In reality we are a leading City, a city unafraid to do things differently or to learn where things have been done differently.”
He added: “Cork is an international city, very much a European city, influenced by a world outside, reacting against expectations that we should limit what we can be.”
The Turners Cross-based councillor was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Irish parents. He has lived in Cork city since he was eight years old where he studied at Scoil Chríost Rí and Coláiste Chríost Rí, and at the Cork Regional Technical College (now MTU). He received an MBS in Government from University College Cork in 2015.
He was first elected to Cork City Council in 1991, becoming the first Green Party candidate to do so. At the 2002 general election, he was elected to Dáil Éireann for the Cork South-Central constituency.
He was nominated by then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to Seanad Éireann as a Senator in August 2007 where he was appointed as Deputy Leader of the Seanad. He also served the national Chair of the Green Party from 2007 to 2011. In 2019 he was elected once again to Cork City Council.
The Lord Mayor announced that fellow Green Party member, Cllr Honore Kamegni will be the Deputy Lord Mayor.
Cllr Kamegni, who in the recent local election became the first black man to be elected to Cork County Council, said: “I have one word to describe what has happened in Cork tonight as I am elected Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork: historic!”
He added: “I am very proud of what I have achieved, and I want my election to serve as a pathway to others. Also, I am proud to have done this as a member of the Green Party. There are many issues in the world today but one issue we can’t afford to let slip off the agenda is the existential crisis of climate change. I ask you all to dig deep to show the leadership we need to take our city forward and leave a safe planet to our children.”
Outgoing Lord Mayor, Cllr Kieran McCarthy said: “It has been a really deep honour. It is one thing writing about Cork history, it is another being a part of it.
“Indeed, it is very difficult to sum up my experiences in a few sentences.”
County mayor
In the county, West Cork Fianna Fáil Cllr Joe Carroll elected as the new Mayor of the County of Cork.
The Skibbereen local was first elected to Cork County Council in June 2004 having begun his career in politics in 1999 when he was elected to Skibbereen Town Council.
Mayor Carroll was born and raised in Dunmanway and has lived in Skibbereen for most of his life with his wife Sheila and their family. He previously worked as a bus driver with CIE and as a publican.
In taking up the position, Mayor Carroll thanked his family and expressed his pride in assuming the role of Mayor at the start of the new five-year Council term.
He said: “I look forward to using my time as mayor to support communities and businesses across the county of Cork.
“My key priority is ensuring that Cork County Council is adequately funded by central government.
“I want to ensure that we can provide the services that matter most to the people of this incredible county like our local roads that have been devastated by extreme rainfall as well as supporting the growth of our towns and our villages.
“Another area that I am passionate about is listening to the young people of county Cork. We need to partner with other sectors to keep our young people here, supporting them to create a future of their choosing and giving them every opportunity to live and work in County Cork,” added Mr Carroll.
Cllr Martin Coughlan, an Independent for the Macroom Local Electoral area, was elected as the Deputy Mayor of the County of Cork.