New CMETB chair and deputy elected
CAVAN County Councillor Clifford Kelly (FF) has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB).
He takes over from outgoing chairperson, businesswoman, Aprilanna Barker.
Monaghan County Councillor Aiden Campbell (FG) was elected vice-chair.
Their appointments happened at the first CMETB meeting of the new academic year on September 29. The only other member in contention was Cavan councillor Damien Brady (SF), nominated by his party colleague, Colm Carthy, who served as Deputy Chair last year.
As she prepared to hand over the title, Ms Barker, said she couldn’t believe how quickly her tenure had passed.
“When I stood here before you last year, I had butterflies as big as birds in my stomach,” she said. “But, I am someone who believes you should feel the fear and do it anyway. And a year later, I have emerged relatively unscathed.”
Ms Barker thanked the Board members for their “support and guidance” throughout the year and for “having the confidence in me”.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Áine Smith proposed her colleague Clifford Kelly as chairperson and Fine Gael’s Carmel Brady seconded the proposal.
However, Sinn Féin’s Colm Carthy nominated Cllr Brady from his party for the position “in respect of rotating”.
“Without disrespect to any other nominee, he's held the post twice in the past,” Cllr Carthy said of his colleague, Cllr Brady (SF).
“As Aprilanna said, it’s a learning experience and it will stand to you,” Cllr Carthy said of his Cavan colleague’s potential.
Cllr Carthy’s proposal was seconded by Monaghan councillor, Sinéad Flynn, attending the CMETB meeting remotely.
Since there was more than one member nominated, a vote had to be taken.
Board members then voted anonymously by writing the name of the person they wanted elected chair on pieces of paper.
When the votes were counted, Cllr Kelly was elected to the role by 14 to four, and Ms Barker announced her successor duly elected.
Cavan’s Councillor Brady (FG) then nominated her Fine Gael counterpart in Monaghan, Cllr Campbell, for the position of Deputy Chair.
This was seconded by another Fine Gael Councillor in Monaghan, Alan Johnston.
As there was no other nominee for the role, Cllr Campbell was elected.
Cllr Damien Brady thanked those who proposed, seconded and voted for him saying he had “some very proud moments” as Deputy Chair last year.
He specifically mentioned the opening of the Supply Chain, Logistics & Procurement Centre of Excellence in Cavan during that time.
Cllr Brady (FG) complimented Ms Barker for her work during her tenure.
She said she was particularly impressed by the way the former Chair inspired students at a cookery competition.
“You told them ‘No matter what you are doing; serving, front of house, taking orders, you are part of a family, a group’,” Carmel Brady remembered.
“She is a busy lady in her job but she always gave up her time,” Cllr Brady said of last year’s chairperson.