Reilly only third woman to assume helm at Kells Town Council

Two of Meath's town councils looks like they will be headed up by young women this year as new chairpersons were elected in Navan and Kells this week. Cllr Sarah Reilly was elected cathaoirleach of Kells Town Council on Monday night and is just the third female to take the chair of that body in its 113-year existence. Navan Town Council was expected to elect Cllr Caoimhe Ní Shluain of Sinn Fein as Navan's new mayor last night (Tuesday). At just 21, she is believed to be the youngest mayor or council chairperson in the country. At the annual meeting of Kells Town Council on Monday night, Cllr Reilly was proposed by Cllr Ollie Sweeney who said she came from a very old Kells family. He said she would be the third female chairperson of Kells Town Council and the first Fine Gael female chairperson of the council. She was seconded by Cllr Tommy Grimes who said that, since her election, she had proved to be eloquent and had taken the town's interests to heart. Cllr Frankie Lynch was elected leas-cathaoirleach. Cllr Reilly commented that her election completed a hatrick for Kells women, with Áine Bird as town clerk and Geraldine Gaughran as president of Kells Chamber of Commerce. She said Kells women contribute hugely to the town. "There is Patricia and Angela in the Kells People's Resource Centre and the hundreds of female volunteers in groups such as the No Name Club and the Scouts. Their success and contribution to the community in Kells will be marked and celebrated during my term," she said. Cllr Reilly said that, during her term, she hoped to see more women getting involved in politics and more young people engaging with the political system. She remarked on the recent surge of positivity in Kells, including Maureen O'Hara's visit which "has done wonders for our pride". The outgoing cathaoirleach, Cllr Brian Collins, recalled his term of office and listed among the highlights the recent big clean-up for the Maureen O'Hara visit, the opening of the Jim Brunnock Road, National Tree Week, the Maureen O'Hara visit itself and the 40th anniversary celebrations at Fr McCullen Park. Meanwhile, Cllr Caoimhe Ní Shluain was expected to have been elected Mayor of Navan last night (Tuesday). She will be just the second female mayor since the office was first introduced in 2000. Cllr Ni Shluain, who was co-opted onto the council last year following the election of Peadar Tóibín to the Dail, said the position of mayor was a huge opportunity for her, but presented a lot of challenges. She said she hoped to see the completion of the first phase of the town park during her term and among the initiatives she hopes to undertake are a young entrepreneurs' scheme for 15- to 25 year-olds and a 'Know Your Council' project for fifth and sixth class pupils. Cllr Francis Deane was expected to be elected deputy mayor.