Cassidy elected chair of Kells MD

Fine Gael's Clr Eugene Cassidy was elected Cathaoirleach of Kells Municipal Council at its annual meeting today (Monday).

Tributes were paid at the meeting to Fianna Fail's Cllr Sean Drew, who handed over the chains of office to Cllr Cassidy after a year in the chair.

Cllr Cassidy was proposed by Cllr Sarah Reilly (FG) and seconded by Cllr Mike Brady (FF) and was elected by four votes to two with one abstention, in a vote against Sinn Fein's Cllr Michael Gallagher.

Cllr Cassidy had the support of the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael members of the council. Cllr Mike Bray was elected vice chair.

Cllr Cassidy said over the years and in the past year, the Kells councillors, no matter what party worked together for the betterment of the Kells area. "That is why we punch above our weight - we all work together.

"I hope that in the year ahead we will continue to work together. There are a lot of things going on in the Kells area. We will be starting on the County Development Plan and I hope we are all singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to what is right for Kells going forward. It is a ten year plan and we need to get it right."

Cllr Cassidy said projects he's like to see progressing were the Druconrath Amenity Area, Rathkenny Community Centre and the boardwalk on Whitewood Lake through the planning procress.

He also hopes to see the Athboy and Oldcastle public realm plans progressing.

"Another project I want to see progressing it the Public Realm Plan for Kells. A lot was learned from the one way system trail ten int he town years ago and a scaled down version of that would work for the town of Kells.

"A public realm plan is important for the town. I see Kingscourt got €20million and work is starting on the public realm there this year. If we had a pubic realm plan progressed we should also be able to avail of funding," he said.