This article is from page 34 of the 2006-07-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 34 JPG
AN ambitious programme of initiatives and events with an emphasis on the less well-off was announced by Cllr Flan Garvey (FF) in his maiden speech as Clare’s mayor last Friday.
The Inagh councillor told the local authority’s annual general meeting that he had ‘finally won the race’ and was ‘absolutely delighted’ after he was the unanimous choice of the 32member Council to become Mayor.
Green party councillor, Brian Meaney was elected as Clare’s deputy mayor. The two will share a mayor’s allowance of €35,000 for the year.
The election pact forms part of a deal agreed between Fianna Fáil and independent councillors two years ago that leaves Fine Gael with only two of the ten posts on the Council for the next five years.
The new Mayor said he wanted the council to establish a Merit Award Scheme for Clare people and the 2007 Budget would include a contribution to the developing world. He said that a 22-day trip to the Clare Valley in Australia would take place next year for the 21st anniversary of the twinning with the Clare Valley.