John Clendennen elected Cathaoirleach of Birr Municipal District

FINE Gael's John Clendennen has been elected Cathaoirleach of Birr Municipal District.
The Kinnitty man will be the final Chair of this current Birr MD in advance of the local elections next year.
Cllr Peter Ormond (Fianna Fáil) proposed Cllr Clendennen for the Chair, pointing out that Cllr Clendennen has been a councillor since 2014. The proposal was seconded by Cllr John Leahy who pointed out that the Kinnitty man was “born into politics and has a busy life, which includes being President of the Vintners Federation of Ireland.”
Cllr Clendennen said it will be a great honour to serve as Cathaoirleach. “The District we cover is very large. It used to be overseen by Ferbane Area Council and Birr Area Council but then those two Councils merged in 2014 into Birr Municipal District. Now we cover an area which runs from Ballinahown in the north down to Moneygall in the south.”
He pointed out that party loyalty doesn't have a negative effect in Birr MD. “The councillors of Birr MD have always worked together for the betterment of the area. We realise there is strength in unity.” He joked that that sense of unity might be tested in the run-up to the local elections next year!
He appealed to local community groups to please contact the councillors if they need funding. “There are quite a few sources now of obtaining grants for community projects and we are here to advise community groups on that.”
He said Birr is the capital town of the District and its appearance is what a capital town should look like. “The town looks attractive and there's a buzz in the place. The improvement works on Green Street are significant and we look forward to seeing projects progress in the Courthouse and in the Rectory field. We also look forward to seeing the new Gaelscoil building on Tullamore Road before the end of the year and to seeing construction work beginning on our Primary Care Centre during the summer.”
He appealed to owners of vacant properties to please engage with the Council. “The Croí Cónaithe scheme is an excellent scheme. In 2023 it is not right that we should have so many vacant buildings.”
The councillor added that the closure of Derrinlough Briquette Factory is a major blow to the area. “Tackling Climate Change and the decarbonisation programme is very important,” he remarked, “but it shouldn't be at the expense of local people and the local economy.”
The outgoing Chair Cllr John Carroll (Independent) congratulated Cllr Clendennen on his election and wished him a good year ahead.
In his outgoing speech Cllr Carroll thanked his fellow councillors and the members of the executive for their support and help during the last 12 months. “We have a good spirit of working together in the Council,” he said. “Through this non-partisan spirit we can achieve what we aspire to for the betterment of the community.
“During the last year we saw a number of positive things, including the ongoing work on the proposed regeneration of the convent in Ferbane and the Shannon Hotel in Banagher; the proposal to build a new Gaelscoil building just off Tullamore Road before the end of the year; the launch of a spirit of co-operation between the country's three historic, astronomical observatories in Birr Castle, Dunsink and Armagh; the Paul Hogarth Company being in the process of developing a masterplan for the Rectory lands; conservation work at the monastic site in Clareen; 35 beautiful, new houses in Woodfield Birr; new houses in Belmont, Banagher and Moneygall; and four proposed, new houses for members of the travelling community on Croghan Road, Birr.”
Cllr Ormond said Cllr Carroll had “a fine year as Cathaoirleach. You were a very fair Chairperson throughout your term.”
Cllr Eamon Dooley praised Cllr Carroll for fighting the good fight when it came to highlighting the difficulties facing Bord na Móna workers. "I am sure Cllr Clendennen will continue to fight that good fight," he remarked.
Cllr Peter Ormond was elected to the role of Vice Cathaoirleach. Cllr Leahy praised outgoing Vice Cathaoirleach Cllr Clare Claffey for the enthusiasm and energy which she brought to the task.