Keogh elected Roscommon Leas-Cathaoirleach

Cllr John Keogh has been elected Leas-Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council.

The sitting Athlone Municipal District Chairman was elected to the role at the Roscommon County Council AGM on Monday afternoon.

The South-Roscommon based elected representative will work in tandem with Fine Gael Councillor Liam Callaghan who was elected unopposed as Cathaoirleach.

Cllr Keogh was also elected unopposed to the role. The Fianna Fáil man was proposed as Leas-Cathaoirleach by Cllr Sean Moylan and seconded by Cllr Domnick Connolly.

Proposing Cllr Keogh, Cllr Moylan described the Athlone Municipal District representative as a very "hard working" colleague who had previously served the role of Cathaoirleach two years previously.

"Cllr Keogh operates his council duties with distinction. He is always thorough and fair in his Municipal District and working for the people of County Roscommon as a whole. He is always on hand with advice and is an extremely diligent elected representative. I am sure that he will work hand in hand with Cllr Callaghan over the coming year," Cllr Moylan said.

Cllr Domnick Connolly said that Cllr Keogh was certain to do a "great job" as Leas-Cathaoirleach being a great representative for the people of South Roscommon and the entire county.

The newly-appointed Leas-Cathaoirleach seconded the proposal of Cllr Callaghan to the role of 'first citizen' of the county.

Cllr Keogh said the incoming Cathaoirleach was an elected representative who served his role with a "common sense" attitude.

"I am certain that Cllr Callaghan will serve the role of Cathaoirleach with honesty and integrity. In a world of chaos and madness it is great to know we have a person leading our council with a common sense approach. Cllr Callaghan has the respect of all the Chamber as can be seen by the fact he was not contested for the role of Cathaoirleach

"We have excellent ambitions for County Roscommon and I know that Cllr Callaghan will represent our county proudly both nationally and internationally. His father, Tom, who also served as Roscommon County Councillor, is certainly looking down on Cllr Callaghan today with immense pride," Cllr Keogh said.

Stating that he would be readily available to assist the Cathaoirleach in his capacity as Leas-Cathaoirleach, Cllr Keogh said that it was his intention to "perform the role to the best of his ability".