Lahinch’s Liam Grant has been formally co-opted to Clare County Council.

Grant made history on Monday by becoming the first member of the local authority to be co-opted at a virtual sitting in its 122 year history. Cllr Grant (GP) was present Áras Contae an Chláir alongside Cathaoirleach, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND), Chief Executive Pat Dowling, Director of Service Liam Conneally and Ann Reynolds of Corporate Services.

He replaces Susan Crawford, the Miltown Malbay woman resigned from her role in July having been co-opted following Roisin Garvey’s nomination to the Seanad. The contributions of Crawford during her ten months on the Council were acknowledged by Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) and Cllr Joe Cooney (FG).

In proposing the co-option of his fellow parishioner, Cllr Shane Talty (FF) said it was “a pity” there was no physical meeting for Liam to mark the event with his family. “Liam is a big community man in Lahinch and will be a big addition”.

Well-wishes were also voiced by Cllr Flynn, Cllr Cooney, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF), Cllr Joe Killeen (FF), Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG), Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) and Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF).

A return of a Green Party councillor was welcomed by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG), “It is a great honour to represent your local constituents and the county at large. It is great to have a Green representative back on the Council, I’m a blue Green myself, I’m with Fine Gael but tinged with Green”.

“It is a very exciting day for anybody coming into Clare County Council for the first time, we’ve all experienced it, it’s a very daunting day too. As the weeks go on, you’ll realise there’s no demons or dragons here, they’re pretty sound people,” Cllr Ryan quipped.

Colour schemes of Cllr Johnny Flynn were questioned by the Chief Executive, “Be assured blue green represents purple when you mix them together”. He added, “There are no demons or dragons in Clare County Council, I would like to assure the media too, they were banished with the snakes many years ago”.

Addressing the Council for the first time, Cllr Grant a retained firefighter in Ennistymon, said, “I look forward to working with everyone whether you are Blue Green or Red Green, whatever your colour combination is”.

Liam voiced his desire to end “end the game of musical chairs that has been going on with the Green seat and hopefully you will be stuck with me for a while”. The lifeguard told the meeting he would be pushing a Green agenda which included clean bathing waters.