Connolly elected chair of Roscommon's Athlone Municipal District

Cllr Domnick Connolly has been elected Cathaoirleach of the Roscommon County Council Athlone Municipal District.

The Fine Gael Councillor was elected unopposed to the role at Municipal District AGM this morning (Friday).

Cllr Connolly will work in tandem with Independent Cllr Emer Kelly who was elected Leas-Cathaoirleach for the 2025/26 term.

The Cathaoirleach was proposed by Fine Gael Cllr Valerie Duffy and seconded for the role by Cllr Laurence Fallon.

In his maiden speech as Cathaoirleach, Cllr Connolly said it was an "honour" to be elected to the role.

"I am proud to work with my fellow Councillors and Council executive for the coming year. We have a huge area of people to look after in South Roscommon but we will get through it together," Cllr Connolly said.

The Cathaoirleach also referenced the potential for the recently unveiled masterplan for Athlone which has been developed by Roscommon native, Sean Mulryan.

"Athlone is at the centre of Ireland and has the potential for further development. It is great to see that Sean Mulryan has put it on the map and as a Council we will back it to the best of our ability," Cllr Connolly said.

Cllr Connolly also paid tribute to the work conducted by outgoing Cathaoirleach Cllr John Keogh during his term in the role.

Outgoing Cathaoirleach John Keogh referenced the "positive happenings" in South Roscommon during his term in the role.

"The Joint Urban Area Plan, in tandem with Westmeath County Council, is an important piece of work for the community of Monksland over the next 12 months and I am sure all Councillors here in the Municipal District will assist in this project to see it come to fruition," Cllr Keogh said.

There was an air of poignancy in the Chamber as the elected representatives and executive remembered the late Fine Gael Councillor John Naughten who passed away in October last.