Clare county council elects new cathaoirleach
Cllr Paul Murphy (Fine Gael) was elected as Cathaoirleach for the 2025-2026 term and standing beside him as Laes-Cathaoirleach is Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (Fianna Fáil).
Fianna Fáil councillor Alan O'Callaghan handed over the seat of Cathaoirleach, reflecting on his term, with Clare winning the All-Ireland for the first time in 11 years being on his his highlights.
Cllr O'Callaghan thanked his family and friends for support through the year.
'To everyone here in the chamber, to all the members you were respectful of the chair, and I really appreciate that.'
'We leave no one behind. And that is very important as a local authority. Bring everyone along with you.'
In response to the departing of Cllr O'Callaghan as the first citizen in the chamber, councillors remarked on his fun-loving professional demeaner that always ensured matters of business were handled within meeting times and gave each councillor the 'freedom' they needed, says Michael Begley who was elected Cathaoirleach in 2018.
Cllr John Crowe nominated Cllr Paul Murphy saying that he is a 'real team member for all of us'. Cllr Murphy is the first person elected Cathaoirleach from Clarecastle in the history of the council and was praised for being a trustworthy and dependable councillor for the county.
Upon election, Cllr Murphy said: 'It is a huge honour to be sitting here today as Clare County Council. I am deeply privileged to accept this role with your full support.'
'Many hands make light work… this seat belongs to the people and not to myself.'
Additionally, Cllr. Clare Colleran-Molloy made history with her election as the first Leas-Cathaoirleach to be elected with American citizenship in Clare County Council. She took over the seat from Cllr. Mary Howard (Fine Gael).
Cllr Colleran-Molloy was nominated with praises for her commitment to local government.
Accepting the seat she said: 'I will answer the call, and I will do my best to help.'
Furthermore, the municipal distracts have proceeded with elections as well.
Shannon elected MD Cllr John Crowe as Cathaoirleach, and Cllr Michael Begley as Leas-Cathaoirleach.
Cllr Mary Howard is the new Mayor of Ennis having been elected last Thursday with Cllr Pat Daly as deputy Mayor of Ennis.
In Killaloe MD, Cllr Pat Burke was elected as Cathaoirleach and Cllr Tony O'Brien as Leas-Chathaoirleach.
Finally, in West Clare, Cllr Bill Slattery will be Cathaoirleach for the next year with Cllr Michael Shannon serving as Leas-Chathaoirleach.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
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If long-term renting is such a good solution, why don't more politicians do it?
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According to the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), in 2023 'middle-to-higher-income renters in Ireland are more likely to face high housing costs than their European counterparts'. Fourteen per cent of the richest Irish renters pay more than 30 per cent of their income on rent, versus 3 per cent on average elsewhere. Sixteen per cent of the next-wealthiest renters pay more than 30 per cent of their income on rent compared to 9 per cent on average elsewhere. The Government's strategy is that in order for rents for already financially stressed tenants to fall, rents for financially stressed tenants must first be allowed to rise. High rents will then attract international investment, which will then build apartments for rent, which will then reduce rents across the board. 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In 2023, 23 local authorities reported that more than 90 per cent of inspected dwellings were found to be non-compliant with the required standards. There are other concerns: tenancies being misrepresented as less secure licence agreements; landlords wilfully ignoring legal requirements including having to provide their names to tenants; and investigations that take years by an under-resourced RTB. The fact is that whether renting from the Government's white knights – international investors – or the traditional small landlord, there are serious issues with the private rented sector that need to be addressed before the State can legitimately expect people to willingly rent a home instead of owning one. The minuscule proportion of Government politicians who rent (in a country where one in five people in the population generally are in the private rental sector) tells its own story. If more politicians don't choose to rent long-term, why do they believe so many of us should? Dr Lorcan Sirr is senior lecturer in housing at the Technological University Dublin
