Killenard a winner as Fine Gael drop in

The imminent referendum on the abolition of the Seanad and a hectic Dail term occupied the minds of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, when it gathered in The Heritage Killenard, last Monday week.

The annual think in, amidst the sumptuous surroundings of The Heritage, has become a rite of passage for all the major political parties as they signpost their positions for the forthcoming legislative session.

However, there was no denying the coup of hosting the shindig for the hotel and the local region, for which the Chairman of the Parliamentary Party, Deputy Charles Flanagan was thanked.

In his welcome to the party at Monday night’s dinner, Deputy Flanagan highlighed that Laois was “the only county not touched by a county touching the sea,” a piece of trivia well known in the county, but perhaps less so outside.

Deputy Flanagan noted that it was a busy time for Laois, and the party conference was bookended by the Picnic and this week’s Ploughing.

Also present was the Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Mary Sweeney who welcomed the parliamentary party to Laois, and who outlined t he state of play in the county at the moment.

She was the first Cathaoirleach to do so.

Also mingling on Monday night were Cllrs James Deegan, Willie Aird, John Bonham, Kathleen O’Brien and Marty Phelan.

In his remarks Taoiseach Enda Kenny noted the fine literary collection of the Hotel, including the prospectus of Laois County Council.

The menu for Monday night’s dinner beef and monkfish.