Butler is new Fingal Mayor

FINGAL County Council has elected Darragh Butler as its mayor for the 2016-2017 term.

Cllr Butler, who is based Swords, has been a member of Fingal County Council since June 2007 and is married with one son. 

Originally from Bray, his grandfather, Robert Butler, was a member of Dublin County Council in the 1950s while his uncle, Ciaran Murphy, served as a Fianna Fáil TD for Wicklow from 1973 to 1982.

Cllr Eithne Loftus, who is based in Castleknock, was elected as Deputy Mayor. 

Cllr Butler defeated Cllr David Healy (Green Party) and Cllr Eugene Coppinger (Anti Austerity Alliance) in the vote for Mayor while Cllr Loftus defeated Cllr Malachy Quinn (Sinn Féin) and Cllr Sandra Kavanagh (Anti Austerity Alliance) in the Deputy Mayor election.

Cllr Butler said he was delighted and honoured after being elected Mayor of Fingal.

“It will be a busy 12 months and I look forward to doing my best for Fingal,” he said. 

Dublin Fingal TD Darragh O’Brien (FF) was among those to congratulate Cllr Butler. 

“Darragh has served on Fingal County Council with energy and passion for almost 10 years,” he said. “Having worked closely with him through the years, I have seen first-hand his ability and dedication as a public representative in the locality.

“I take this opportunity to also pay tribute to the outgoing mayor, Cllr David O’Connor, who has been extremely successful in his role. 

“His huge sense of community and commitment to his work were vitally important for the wider Fingal area. 

“I also want to recognise the fantastic work of outgoing Deputy Mayor, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien.” 

Outgoing mayor, Cllr David O’Connor, said it had been a very busy year with the launch of the Draft Fingal Development Plan and the events to commemorate 1916 as well as a general election and a senate election. 

He remarked how far Fingal had come over the past 30 years and thanked his fellow councillors, the county’s Oireachtas members and the chief executive and staff of the council for all the assistance they had given him during the year.

Councillors at the meeting praised Cllr O’Connor for the job he did as mayor and the manner in which he represented the council at various events over the 12 months.

Fingal County Council chief executive Paul Reid made a presentation to Cllr O’Connor to mark his term in office and paid his tribute to him on behalf of the staff saying he had represented the council very well and reinforced their pride in working for Fingal. 

Mr Reid also paid tribute to the outgoing Deputy Mayor, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, and congratulated the new mayor and deputy mayor on their election.