KERRY’S two new councillors have taken their seats in the debating chambers and both said they are greatly looking forward to the challenges ahead.
At a specially convened meeting of Kerry County Council this Tuesday, Tralee man Johnnie Wall was co-opted to fill the Fianna Fáil seat vacated by Deputy Norma Foley following her election to Dáil Éireann while Deirdre Ferris, from Ardfert, has been co-opted in place of Sinn Fein TD Pa Daly who also won a seat in the general election.
Mr Wall is a former long-serving Tralee town councillor who served as mayor and chairman of the local authority on a number of occasions.
He was politically close to Deputy Foley’s late father, Denis, who served as a councillor, senator and TD during a long career in public life.
It had been widely reported that Deputy Foley’s husband, Denis Maguire, Kerry GAA officer Weeshie Lynch and Sheila Kelly had also been nominated.
Mr Wall contested the last local elections when he was added to the Fianna Fail ticket in the Tralee Municipal District but he didn’t win a seat.
Members of Sinn Féin in the Tralee Municipal District, meanwhile, had selected Deirdre Ferris ahead of Padraig Sugrue, from Farmers Bridge, in a secret ballot held in in the Kerins O’Rahilly’s clubhouse.
She said she was determined to give the people the representation they deserve and have come to expect.
“I understand that with this role comes responsibility and I will work with my colleagues in Sinn Féin and from across the political divide to ensure that the decisions we make are for the good of all the people,” added Ms Ferris who is a daughter of former Sinn Fein TD Martin Ferris and a sister of former councillor Toireasa.
Both co-opted councillors represent the Tralee Electoral Area and the Tralee Municipal District.
They were formally welcomed to the council chamber by the Mayor of Kerry, Cllr Niall Kelleher, other councillors and Kerry County Council Chief Executive, Moira Murrell.
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