Curran returns to chair as former pact holds

A voting pact which saw a combination of Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Fein control Kells Town Council since 2004 is to remain in place until the next local elections following the new council"s first meeting after the local elections. Independent Cllr Brian Curran was elected chairman with the help of two Fine Gael, two Labour and one Sinn Fein councillors on Monday evening. It is his second term as chairman and he takes over from Labour"s Brian Collins, who held the post for the past year. A feature of Monday"s meeting was the high number of councillors returned to their positions by the electorate. They were Bryan Reilly (FF), Sean Drew (FF), Brian Curran (Ind), Brian Collins (Lab), Conor Ferguson (SF), Oliver Sweeney (FG) and Tommy Grimes (Lab). Two sitting councillors, AO Farrelly and Peter Caffrey, had not contested the recent elections. Newcomers to the council, Fine Gael"s Sarah Reilly and Fianna Fail"s Frankie Lynch were given a warm welcome to their first meeting as councillors. Cllr Bryan Reilly was proposed for the position of vice-chairman but was defeated 6-3. Veteran Cllr Tommy Grimes, who is in his 36th year on the council, was elected vice-chairman. The new chairman, Cllr Brian Curran, said his election as chairman was a wonderful opportunity and a great honour for his family, supporters and many friends in Kells and the catchment area. 'Tonight I become the first citizen of Kells, an honour which you have entrusted on me and I hope to fulfil it to the best of my ability with the co-operation of you, my colleagues of all parties, during the coming year in the interests of the good of Kells and its people,' he said. He was conscious that he was following in the footsteps of another Brian (Collins) whose outstanding interest in the people of Kells had listed him as one of the most outstanding chairpersons to date. He acknowledged the presence of newly-elected councillors, Sarah Reilly of Bective Street, 'whose famly are one of the oldest and most respected families in the town of Kells'. He also welcomed Cllr Frankie Lynch of Lord Edward Street and Rockfield. 'He needs no introduction because of his already valued contribution to this community in both sport and charity work,' said the new chairman. He was also following in the footsteps of his late brother, Aidan. Cllr Curran said that in the coming year the council would be faced with many serous decisions for the betterment and improvement of Kells but he was confident that they could meet those decisions with hope and confidence and with the co-operation of elected members, administration and outdoor staff, Kells Chamber of Commerce and the many voluntary organisations in the town. With a wide range of projects and plans for Kells, he felt sure they could rely on the faithful support of their local and hardworking Dail deputy Johnny Brady to make the necessary representations for funding to Government agencies.