Kelly expected to become chair of Roscommon's Athlone Municipal District

Independent councillor Emer Kelly is tipped to become the Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council's Athlone Municipal District when its AGM takes place on Tuesday next (June 16).

The Ballyforan-based representative is expected to replace outgoing Cathaoirleach Cllr Domnick Connolly and fulfil the role until June 2027.

At the age of 24, the South Roscommon councillor became the first woman ever elected to the council in the Athlone area of South Roscommon at the local elections in June 2024.

The outgoing Athlone Municipal District Leas-Cathaoirleach received 1,946 first preference votes, the highest in the county, in 2024.

In addition to her role as a county councillor, Ms Kelly works as an occupational therapist at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe.