Traffic solutions top priority for newly elected mayor Ken Glynn

Fianna Fáil’s Ken Glynn has been elected as the first mayor of the Mullingar Kinnegad district in the newly formed council.

He was proposed and seconded for the role by party colleagues Cllr Aoife Davitt and Cllr Niall Gaffney at the July monthly meeting today, Monday.

Mayor Glynn, who was the district’s first-ever mayor in 2014, said that “town traffic issues” will be at the forefront of his term.

“I will not support a town centre which precludes modes of transport people require to get to town,” he said.

“We need to support our businesses and ratepayers, and finding a solution will be a major help to the town.”

Elected to the role of deputy mayor was Fianna Fáil newcomer Alfie Devine, who said he’s looking forward to getting started.

“I’m delighted to be nominated to the position as a new candidate; it’s all new for me, but I’m learning fast,” he said.

“As deputy mayor, I will get a good grounding and knowledge of what’s going on in the area from the start.

“It’s great because we have a mayor from the town and a district mayor from outside it - which means we can work together on all issues that are out there.”

The outgoing mayor was John Shaw, who retired from his seat at the end of the last term, and Cllr Bill Collentine was the outgoing deputy mayor.