*Alan Farrell.
CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL’s newest director was welcomed with open arms to his first meeting of the Shannon Municipal District.
In January, Alan Farrell’s appointment as Director of Physical Development with Clare County Council and Director of Services for the Shannon Municipal District, took effect. His addition to the local authority was first reported by The Clare Echo in December and is part of a shake-up to the senior management structure of the Council.
To date, Farrell has been present at two meetings of Clare County Council, a meeting of the Physical Development Strategic Policy Committee and also the Shannon Municipal District.
Transport, environment, transition of water functions to Uisce Éireann, fire and emergency services all fall under Farrell’s brief in the Physical Development directorate.
Cathaoirleach of the Shannon MD, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) acknowledged his attendance for the first time at their recent sitting. “He has the ground running, he has been meeting councillors and visiting different parts of the Municipal District”.
Cllr McGettigan also took time to praise Siobhán McNulty who had been Acting Director for nine months following the exit of Liam Conneally to become Chief Executive of Galway County Council. “I would like to thank her for all the work she put in while she was with us”.
Addressing the meeting, Alan said he was “looking forward” to working with councillors. “It is great to see the amount of activity in the Municipal District and the wider county”.
He told the meeting he has engaged with all various departments overseeing projects in the county and committed to providing updates at meetings on a regular basis.
Prior to joining Clare County Council, Alan had been Director of Services with responsibility for Economic, Rural & Community Development with Galway County Council. He was responsible for the for the establishment of the Rural Regeneration Team in Galway County Council and championed the development of the BIA Innovator Campus CLG. The Galway native has particular interests in the Food, Tourism, Hospitality and Cultural industries. Farrell had been Director of the Athenry MD.
