New councillor co-opted to Offaly County Council

SANDRA Feehan Smollen has replaced her husband Ken on Offaly County Council.

Cllr Feehan Smollen was co-opted to the vacancy following Cllr Ken Smollen's resignation for health reasons.

Cllr Feehan Smollen was proposed by Cllr Clare Claffey, Social Democrats, and seconded by Cllr Sean O'Brien, Independent.

Cllr Ken Smollen, who was first elected in 2019 in the Tullamore Electoral Area, attended the meeting, accompanied by his wife.

Offaly County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick, welcomed Ken Smollen: "It's good to see you and we certainly wish you well going forward."

Cllr Fitzpatrick explained that it was up to the other elected members to fill the vacancy and Cllr Feehan Smollen was the sole nominee.

Commending her to the chamber, Cllr Claffey said she first met Cllr Feehan Smollen when she and Ken Smollen were elected in 2019 but said it was under "very sad and unfortunate circumstances" that the vacancy had become available.

Cllr Claffey assured the other members that the new councillor would do a fantastic job and she listed the numerous community groups and organisations in the Clara area with which Cllr Feehan Smollen was involved, from sports to school parents associations and many more.

Cllr Claffey said the Clara woman is the current chair of Clara Swimming Pool, is the vice chair of Clara Tidy Towns, secretary of Clara Badminton Club, a 2022 Offaly Community Games area award winner, Clara Town Team member, is involved in the Clara Regeneration Project, and is on the Clara Community Council.

The Banagher councillor also paid tribute to former councillor Smollen and said they shared similar views, praising his work against food poverty with his food appeal.

"I'm also very lucky to get to call him my friend," she said, adding: "It'll also be nice to have another strong woman in the chamber."

Cllr O'Brien, a colleague of Cllr Feehan Smollen in the Tullamore Municipal District, described the new councillor as a fantastic person and joined in the praise of her for all her community work.

Referring to Cllr Ken Smollen, he said he was a man like himself who "tells it as it really is" and represented the people: "He was there to serve, rather than be served."

Cllr John Leahy, Independent, supported the nomination, recalled his differences in the chamber with Cllr Ken Smollen, but said those differences did not extend to outside the council.

Cllr Neil Feighery, Fine Gael, wished Ken Smollen and Cllr Feehan Smollen well, as did Cllr Declan Harvey, Fianna Fail.

Cllr Harvey told Mr Smollen: "I hope you do recover Ken and get back up and running again."