New mayor steps into vacant slot

Andrew Phelan

SOUTH Dublin County Council has co-opted four new members and elected a mayor after the positions were vacated by councillors who won Dail seats.

The new councillors include a mental health nurse and a school principal.

Labour councillor Marie Corr, meanwhile, was elected mayor by unanimous agreement at the council's monthly meeting.

The previous mayor, Eamonn Maloney, was one of the four councillors who successfully contested the General Election.

The others were Sean Crowe (SF), Derek Keating (FG) and Robert Dowds (Lab).

Sinn Fein's new councillor for Tallaght central, Maire Devine, said her new role was "a new chapter in her lifelong commitment to the underdog".

Labour's replacement is Breeda Bonner, principal of St Bernadette's National School in Clondalkin. The youngest new member, Emer Higgins, has worked in Fine Gael's constituency office for several years. Chris Bond, also Labour, has worked for several local firms, including Paddy Power.

aphelan@herald.ie