A day of mixed emotions as Conlon begins council chapter

MARGARET Conlon took her place on the Fianna Fáil benches of Monaghan County Council on Monday with a pledge to continue the good work of her predecessor the late Seamus Coyle.

The former principal of the St Louis Secondary School in Monaghan Town, who served as a FF TD for Cavan/Monaghan from 2007-2011, was selected by her party organisation in the Ballybay-Clones Municipal District area to succeed the former Cllr Coyle following his sudden death in August after a 22-year tenure on the local authority.

She was formally co-opted to the Council at its November meeting on the proposal and seconding of party colleagues Cllrs P J O’Hanlon and Raymond Aughey.

The new councillor was also appointed to fill the sub-committee and representative body roles held by her predecessor.

In moving the co-option proposal, Cllr O’Hanlon referred to the occasion as one of mixed emotions, fondly recollecting Seamus Coyle and remarking how “you miss the phone calls, conversations and meetings”. “Seamus is a loss to the county and his extended family in FF,” Cllr O’Hanlon said. “He was a good colleague and friend and may he rest in peace.”

While confessing that the new councillor had politely asked him “not to go into a spiel about her”, Cllr O’Hanlon told the meeting that Margaret Conlon is someone highly respected in FF who will bring a wealth of experience and be a positive addition to the Council.

“Margaret is very experienced politically and will bring nothing but good to our Council,” assented Cllr Aughey.

The co-option was unanimously approved and the new councillor took her seat to acclaim.

Welcoming Margaret to the Council, the Cathaoirleach, Cllr Aidan Campbell (FF) said it is a proud day for her family and herself. “You have very experienced colleagues beside you and we are all looking forward to working with you for the benefit of the people of the county,” the Cathaoirleach told her.

Cllr Conlon was also greeted by her new colleagues on the Ballybay-Clones Municipal District.

Cllr Pat Treanor (SF) said he knew Margaret was a hard worker from her earlier elected role and is sure she will be equally committed to her County Council role.

Cllr Sinéad Flynn said, “You have big shoes to fill as Seamus was an extremely valued member and we all held him in very high regard. But I am sure you will bring the same spirit of co-operation to the role.”

Cllr Flynn said she is particularly delighted to welcome another female councillor to the MD and hopes they will see many more women represented there in the years ahead.

Cllr Sean Gilliland (FG) described the new member as “an able dealer” who came from the same Lough Egish parish as himself so he knows her capabilities. He noted that she

was joining an MD that had the smallest number of elected representatives in the county (five) but the largest area geographically within its remit.

“You have massive shoes to fill, but no better woman to do so,” stated Cllr Richard Truell (FG).

Monaghan Town-based Independent, Cllr Seamus Treanor said that when a TD Margaret played an instrumental role in the development of the Monaghan Education Campus. “At a time when the economy was on the Titanic, she fought very hard to get the campus up and running,” Cllr Treanor stated.

Cllr Noel Keelan (SF) from south Monaghan said Seamus Coyle was a champion of the people of the Ballybay-Clones MD and he has no doubt Margaret will be the same. “It is good to see another woman join us today,” Cllr Keelan added. “There is now a job of work for FG to look for a woman councillor.”

Chief Executive Robert Burns welcomed the new councillor on behalf of the Council’s senior management team. “We will do our best to work with you for the benefit of the communities of the county,” the CE said.

Responding, Cllr Conlon agreed it was a day of mixed emotions – Seamus Coyle was such a big part of the County Council and the Ballybay-Clones MD and she isn’t here to replace him because he is irreplaceable, she is here to continue the good work he started.

She described her co-option as “a privilege and honour I do not take lightly. I understand the responsibility placed on me and look forward to working with each of you for the benefit of the people of Monaghan and the Ballybay-Clones area. I am heartened and very appreciative of all the messages of good wishes I have received from members from all sides since my co-option.”

Cllr Conlon said she would spend the first meeting taking stock of everything and getting her feet under the table “before making any great noises”.