Municipal Council for Thurles and Roscrea area elect first female Cathaoirleach

Pictured above are the nine Tipperary County Councillors on the Thurles Municipal Council - (back) outgoing Leas Cathaoirleach Micheál Lowry (Ind - Lowry Team), Willie Kennedy (FG), outgoing Cathoirleach Michael Smith (FF), Jim Ryan (Ind), Shane Lee (Ind - Lowry Team), (front) Sean Ryan (FF), new Cathaoirleach Peggy Ryan (FG), new Leas Cathaoirleach Eddie Moran (Ind - Lowry Team) and Kay Cahill Skehan (FF)

The nine Councillors on the Municipal District for Thurles, Roscrea and Templemore have elected the area's first female Cathaoirleach in Fine Gael's Peggy Ryan.

Councillor Ryan, who comes from Thurles, was co-opted as a member of Tipperary County Council in December 2021, replacing her brother, Peter Ryan, who resigned his seat.

She was the first female councillor to serve on the nine seat Municipal Council and now becomes the first female Cathaoirleach for the area, taking the reins from Roscrea's Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Smith at their AGM in Thurles on Monday morning.

Her nomination for the role was proposed by party colleague Willie Kennedy and seconded by Fiann Fáil's Sean Ryan.

Templemore based Independent Councillor and Lowry Team member, Eddie Moran was elected as Leas Cathaoirleach by outgoing vice Chair and colleague, Micheál Lowry and seconded by Willie Kennedy.

Before passing on the baton the outgoing Cathaoirleach thanked the District's executive and engineering staff and said his job was to “steer the ship” within a “solid and effective Municipal District”.

Councillor Smith said there were a number of highlights during his term as Chair, citing the restoration of Templemore Town Hall, the opening of the Market Quarter in Thurles, the opening of the REACH Digital Hub in his hometown and securing €150,000 for a feasibility study on reopening the former Grant's Hotel in Roscrea as chief among them.

Referencing the latter, he said he was particularly “delighted to have been the one to throw in that ball when other people went missing”.

The survey on the landmark building on Castle Street in Roscrea aims to determine if the building can be returned to the hospitality business. The hotel, which closed 11 years ago, is currently for sale and it is proposed to reopen it under a community partnership style model first proposed by Cllr Smith and retired TD, Jackie Cahill, in the wake of the controversial repurposing of the Racket Hall hotel as emergency accommodation in January of last year.

The outgoing Cathaoirleach said he is proud that this District has the highest level of home building in the county and that seeing people receive the keys to their homes was one of the most memorable moments during his term.

“In this Municipal District we are always fighting for any funding that is available”, he said, and thanked his vice Chair, Cllr Lowry.

Councillors Smith and Ryan were congratulated by their fellow councillors, by Susan Scally on behalf of the District executive, by Thomas Lonergan on behalf of the outdoor staff and by Tipperary County Council, CEO, Sinead Carr, who also attended the AGM.

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In a brief address, Peggy Ryan said she was honoured to assume the role and said the District faces many challenges, including vacancy and dereliction and environmental challenges.

“I want this to be a year of achievements” she said and thanked her mother and father, family and friends for their support throughout her time in politics.

“Vacancy and dereliction in our towns and villages presents a real opportunity for renewal and must be a priority”, she said.