Tormey takes Mick McCarthy’s lead with second go at the job

PAUL MURPHY
It was hard to escape the analogy of Mick McCarthy and Fianna Fail's Conor Tormey at this week's Meath County Council meeting when the Ashbourne auctioneer returned as a member of the council after a 14-year absence.
The "new/old" councillor was formally co-opted to the 40-member Council this week to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Cllr Sean Smith who has emigrated with his family to the United States.
Tormey will represent the Ashbourne Municipal District on the Council. He defeated former Meath GAA footballer Joe Sheridan for the nomination at a convention held in Ashbourne last week.
Proposing him for the Council seat the Fianna Fail whip on the Council, Cllr Wayne Harding said that during his absence from the chamber, Conor Tormey had served as Meath County Board Chairman from 2012 to 2017. Prior to that he had been chairperson of Donaghmore Ashbourne GFC when he led the project to deliver the “stunning facilities” for the club in the centre of Ashbourne which were now among the best in the country.
“He has vast experience and will make a major contribution to Fianna Fail and his County”, Cllr Harding said.
On behalf of Fine Gael, Cllr Gerry O'Connor welcomed Cllr Tormey back to the Council and said he looked forward to working with him in the interests of the county.
Cllr Nick Killian, speaking on behalf of the independent councillors, said he was delighted to see Conor Tormey back. 
On behalf of Sinn Fein, Cllr Sinead Burke said it was hard to escape the comparison with the return of Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy.
At Monday's meeting, independent Cllr Sharon Keogan called on the Council to institute a policy of having a uniform road memorial symbol to mark areas where sudden or accidental deaths had occurred within the county. The cllr said that families who had suffered bereavement through road accidents very often wanted some form of memorial, both as a remembrance of their loved one but also as a reminder to other road users to take care on the roads.
Councillors stood in silent tribute to two members of its staff who died in recent days - Stephanie Martin, Kilkeelan, Athboy, a member of the Library Section who died last Saturday aged 38, and Larry Campbell, a member of the Outdoor Staff in Navan.