Roscommon County Council elects new mayor

Despite an overthrowing of the Fianna Fáil led alliance at Roscommon County Council, which led to controversial Cllr Luke 'Ming' Flanagan becoming the new Roscommon Mayor, he was congratulated warmly by all sides of the house. It was learned at the annual general meeting of the council this week that the Hospital Action Group councillors set about overthrowing the Fianna Fáil control of the council, by negotiating with the Independents and Sinn Féin members. The previous alliance, which was set up after the local elections last year, was made up of Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, and Independent councillors. However, behind the scenes negotiations brought by the health lobby group, got Fine Gael on board, and then Independent Cllr Luke 'Ming' Flanagan and Sinn Fein's Cllr Michael Mulligan. The Hospital Action Group councillors claimed at Monday's meeting that the negotiations were opened, to oppose the Fianna Fáil alliance nomination, and to highlight the possible future downgrading of Roscommon County Hospital. However Labour's Cllr John Kelly, who was an Independent councillor when he joined the Fianna Fáil led council alliance, claimed at the AGM that Fine Gael's Deputy Denis Naughten was the architect of the new Fine Gael/Sinn Féin/Hospital Action Group/ Independent alliance. Under the agreement of the Fianna Fáil alliance Cllr Kelly would have become Mayor of Roscommon this year, were it not for the scuppering by the Fine Gael side of the house. "Deputy Naughten instigated this one in the Dáil," said Cllr Kelly. "If this is Enda Kenny's policy, I wish him well." He said that the reason he didn't join with the Hospital Action Group was that he was still willing to "gamble," on the Fianna Fáil alliance's power in safeguarding the hospital. "Minister Michael Finneran has some power and I'm prepared to still gamble on him," said the Labour party councillor. Sinn Féin's Cllr Michael Mulligan proposed Cllr Flanagan for Mayor of Roscommon, and it was seconded by the Hospital Action Group's Cllr Paula McNamara. The proposal was also supported by the Fine Gael members. He was elected by 14 votes to 12. An attempt by Fianna Fáil and four Independent councillors to elect Cllr Kelly as Mayor was defeated. Cllr Luke 'Ming' Flanagan who lives in Castlerea replaced Curraghboy resident, Cllr Tony Ward, who was Mayor of Roscommon since June 2009. Mayor Flanagan has campaigned for the legalisation of cannabis for more than a decade. The first person to congratulate the new Mayor was Cllr John Kelly, who reached over to shake the Mayor's hand. The Fianna Fáil members and other Independent members also congratulated Mayor Flanagan on his election. The new Mayor has enjoyed a certain popularity across the council chamber since he was first elected to the council in 2004. The new Deputy Mayor is Fine Gael's Cllr Ernie Keenan, who lives in Boyle.