*Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF). Photograph: John Mangan
SINN FÉIN’s sole member of Clare County Council has been elected as the Cathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District for the first time.
Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) received the backing of elected representatives of the Shannon MD at Thursday’s AGM which took place at the boardroom of Bunratty Castle. Cllr John Crowe (FG) was elected as Leas Cathaoirleach.
Co-opted to Clare County Council in February 2020 following the death of Mike McKee, it will be the first time Donna serves as a Chairperson in any capacity during her three years on the local authority. She also used the occasion to pay tribute to her late friend and mentor.
A candidate during the local elections in the Ennis Municipal District for 2019 where she received 277 first preference votes, Donna has lived in Shannon since 1997. She has served in numerous roles in the local Sinn Féin Cumann.
McGettigan also sits on the Social Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) and the Local Traveller Accommodation Advisory Committee.
An agreement reached with McKee following his election in 2019 was honoured whereby it had been decided that a Sinn Féin representative would take on the post of Cathaoirleach of the Shannon MD during the five year term of the Council, this followed speculation that efforts would be made to make Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) the Cathaoirleach in the final year approaching the local elections.
She reflected, “While it was a special day for me to be taking over as Cathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District, it was also a day to remember the reason I was there and that was due to the passing of former Sinn Féin councillor Mike McKee, he was a close friend of mine and a colleague. I would also like to thank the local cumann for voting and trusting in me to take over his seat”.
Donna acknowledged the manner in which her colleagues in the Shannon Municipal District have welcomed her into the fold. “Since joining the Municipal District, I’ve been made feel very welcome by all councillors and staff, they have had no problem giving up their time helping and advising me, we’ve been working well as a team”.
McGettigan identified some projects she would like to progress during her tenure. They included town and village renewal and Active Travel plus the Sixmilebridge masterplan. “I will also be focusing on the One Shannon Hub in Shannon, I’m hoping to get that over the ground and moving forward to the design team but I acknowledge it may not all be completed during my term”.
Holding the AGM in Bunratty Castle was important, Donna maintained. “It gives assurance to the staff that we are behind them. After all the hard work to get the transfer over the line, it was an honour to be in the boardroom to hold the AGM”.
