Sean Ryan elected Chair of Roscrea, Thurles and Templemore District

Pictured above are (back left to right): Cllrs Seamus Hanafin, Michéal Lowry, Noel Coonan (outgoing Leas Cathaoirleach), Michael Smith and Jim Ryan. (Front left to right): Cllrs Peggy Ryan (outgoing Cathoairleach), Sean Ryan (new Cathaoirleach) and Shane Lee (new Leas Cathaoirleach). The members are pictured in the Municipal District offices at Castle Avenue in Thurles following their AGM on Monday morning.

LITTLETON'S Councillor Sean Ryan has been elected as Cathaoirleach of the Municipal Council for the Roscrea Thurles and Templemore area and Roscrea's Cllr. Shane Lee has been elected Leas Cathaoirleach.

Councillor Ryan, who was co-opted onto the Council in 2016, was nominated by Cllr Michael Smith and seconded by Cllr Seamus Hanafin.

Cllr Ryan said he was honoured to be elected.

He said he intends to progress projects like the Littleton Labyrinth, Templemore's Town Hall restoration and the new Roscrea Town First Masterplan.

Adressing his first meeting as Chair, Cllr. Ryan said he plans to reach out to the future custodians of our communities - the younger generation and encourage them to participate more in local politics.

“I’m sure this will be a great year for our district,” Cllr Ryan said.

Tipperary County Council Chief Executive, Joe MacGrath congratulated Cllr Ryan and wished him the very best in the coming year and paid a warm tribute to outgoing Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Peggy Ryan.

He said she was played pivotal role in the success of the recent Tipperary Women in Politics caucus and that she faced a very steep learning curve as Cathaoirleach so early in her political life.

Cllr Noel Coonan said he was sure all of Littleton was very proud of the new Chair.

Councillors also paid tribute to Peggy Ryan, all commenting she had been extremely hard working and fair in her time as Chair. Cllr Ryan took over her brother’s seat in 2022.

She was elected as Cathaoirleach just six months later, becoming the first woman to hold the position.

Outgoing Leas Cathaoirleach Noel Coonan said she was a pleasure to work with. “She did an excellent job, and it was my pleasure to work with her as Leas Cathaoirleach. I was exhausted by the work she put in,” Cllr Coonan said.

“You should be proud of what you achieved this year,” Cllr Smith added.

Cllr Sean Ryan thanked Cllr Ryan for her work in the Cathaoirleach seat and praised her contribution to the council.
“She has done herself, her colleagues and her family proud,” said Cllr Ryan.

For her part, Cllr Ryan said it was a fantastic opportunity to be Cathaoirleach this year.

She praised the functioning of the district council and said that her colleagues act in the best interests of their communities and never in “empty vessel politics”.