'She is looking on me proudly' emotion as new Laois cathaoirleach elected

It was an emotional moment for the new Laois County Council Cathaoirleach, as Ballyroan Fine Gael Cllr Barry Walsh was elected, accepting the chain of office on Monday, June 30 from the outgoing chair Cllr Padraig Fleming.

“It is a bittersweet day for me, unfortunately I lost my mam recently, so she is not here to witness this day, I know she is looking on me proudly,” Cllr Walsh said.

As well as thanking wife Gemma, children Cillian, Ellie and Oisin and all his supporters, the 46 year old thanked his late mother Dympna and father Peter, with his dad there amongst the packed audience of supporters in the council chambers in Portlaoise.

Cllr Walsh said his focus for the year ahead includes paths to schools so children can cycle safely, tackling dereliction, getting funding for community projects, affordable housing, more IDA investment for Laois jobs, and incentivising farmers to adopt more sustainable agriculture practices.

Cllr Paddy Buggy had proposed him, saying it was his third proudest occasion in his political life, after the election of Deputy Willie Aird and his cooption to take Cllr Aird's seat in Laois County Council.

The new Cathaoirleach Cllr Barry Walsh with his father Peter and sister Michelle after his election to the office on Monday, June 30. 

Cllr Fleming said it had been “a privilege” to serve his second term as chair, having attended over 100 events including trips to New York and Tennessee.

The Laois CEO Michael Rainey praised the outgoing chair as being “positive and professional”.

To Cllr Walsh he said “congratulations, you're now the first citizen of Laois, with that comes weight and responsibility. You can carry it, and rest assured we are all here to support you,” he said.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan had been proposed to be the new Cathaoirleach by Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley, but with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael's “pact” to vote together, none of the other seven councillors get the paid privileged positions of chair and vice chair.

Cllr Mulligan congratulated Cllr Walsh but said “I really disapprove of this pact to exclude us”.

“I get it in the Dáil but we're here for the same reasons. I serve on loads of committees with many councillors where there isn't monetory benefit,” he said.

The new Leas Cathaoirleach is Fianna Fáil Cllr Paschal McEvoy. Cllr Dwane Stanley had also been proposed as vice chair, again defeated by 12 votes to seven.

“Hard luck to Caroline, she is an excellent councillor and contributor all her life she's given to politics,” Cllr McEvoy said.

He replaced Fine Gael Cllr John King, who quipped he had felt like “a bald tyre” for a car with four good tyres all year, such was Cllr Fleming's enthusiasm to attend every event he was invited to.

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Many councillors had effusive praise for both the outgoing and new Cathaoirlaigh.

Also attending the AGM election in Laois County Council chambers were Deputy Willie Aird TD, and former Ballyroan Senator Charlie McDonald and former Cllr Mary Sweeney, whose seat Cllr Walsh was coopted in 2021. Cllr Walsh went on to win his seat in the 2024 Local Election.