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FORMER long-serving councillor Johnnie Wall has been selected to replace Deputy Norma Foley on Kerry County Council.
The vacancy arose following the Tralee teacher’s election to Dáil Éireann and, although it is understood four candidates were in contention, the former town councillor secured the nod.
It has been widely reported that Deputy Foley’s husband, Denis Maguire, Kerry GAA officer Weeshie Lynch and Sheila Kelly had also been nominated.
Mr Wall (75) 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.
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Mr Wall was first elected to Tralee Urban District Council in 1985 and was successful again in 1999 and 2004 but he failed to win a seat on Kerry County Council despite four attempts.
He was elected chairman of the town council in 1989 and again in 1997 and he became Mayor of Tralee in 2002 and again in 2004.
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.
An accomplished musician and a veteran of the showband era, he played with the Maurice Mulcahy Orchestra and with DJ Curtin the Kerry Blues with whom he toured America in 1966 and played in New York, Boston and Chicago.
Mr Wall is expected to be formally co-opted to the council at a special meeting on Tuesday along with Sinn Fein’s Deirdre Ferris who has been selected to replace Deputy Pa Daly.
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