Fergal Cronin this week became the newest member of Mallow Town Council, taking the seat vacated by Richard Dempsey in March. Mr Cronin was selected at a Fine Gael selection convention in the Arches on Monday night, where he defeated Eddie Ward, Brian Hyde and Frank Roche in a vote.
The new councillor’s first official function was the monthly Town Council meeting on Tuesday night where Mayor Noel O’Connor formally introduced him. In attendance for the occasion were his parents Denis and Marjorie and he received a round of applause and good wishes from councillors and those in the public gallery. Cllr Cronin, a native of Mourneabbey, lives in Dernville, Mallow and Mayor O’Connor predicted lively rivalry between the new councillor and Cllr. Ronan Sheehan when Mallow and Clyda Rovers next meet on the GAA field. Monday’s selection convention was attended by MEP Seán Kelly, Deputies David Stanton and Tom Barry, Mayor Noel O’Connor and Cllr Tom Sheahan, and also present was Richard Dempsey who came in for great praise for his term in office. Mayor O’Connor noted the fact that 85% of local Fine Gael members eligible to vote had turned up, and said that this showed the great interest that existed for local politics. The voting took place under the PR system, and after Frank Roche was eliminated, Fergal Cronin went on to achieve the quota ahead of Eddie Ward and Brian Hyde.