End of an era as Dundalk Town Council holds last ever meeting

Members of the last Dundalk Town Council with council officials at last night’s meeting in Dundalk Town Hall

It was the end of an era last night as Dundalk Town Council held its last ever meeting at the Town Hall.

The local authority has been in existence for 115 years from 1899 to the present but will cease to exist from next month as Louth County Council is due to take over the running of the town after Friday’s local elections as part of a government cost-cutting initiative.

A special Mass was held in St Patrick’s Cathedral last night to mark the occasion, followed by a reception in the Town Hall where a plaque was unveiled by Cllr Eamonn O’Boyle, the council’s last ever chair, marking the 115 years of the Town Council.

Presentations were also made to retiring councillors Martin Bellew and Harry Todd, while there was also a presentation made to the council’s last Town Clerk, Frank Pentony.

The last ever council consisted of: Martin Bellew (Independent), Eamonn O’Boyle (Fine Gael), Jennifer Green (Sinn Féin), Harry Todd (Sinn Féin), Maria Doyle (Fine Gael), Oliver Morgan (Independent), Conor Keelan (Fianna Fáil), Mark Dearey (Green Party), Jim Ryan (Independent), Kevin Meenan (Sinn Féin), Marianne Butler (Green Party) and Sean Bellew (Fianna Fáil).

Dundalk Town Council chairman Cllr Eamonn O’Boyle makes a presentation to Town Clerk Frank Pentony

Dundalk Town Council chairman Cllr Eamonn O’Boyle unveils a plaque in Dundalk Town Hall marking the council’s 115 year existence alongside retiring councillors Martin Bellew and Harry Todd

 

Regenation of Cox’s Demesne given the go ahead

Cox’s Demesne

Dundalk Town Council have given the go ahead for the latest part of the Cox’s Demesne regeneration.

The scheme, which according to LMFM includes plans for 23 new homes and a proposal for a looped road, is designed to prevent joy-riding and aimed at ensuring drivers keep to a 30km speed limit.

Following the appropriate planning process, councillors passed the proposals at a special meeting in the Town Hall earlier this week.

Six workshops were held during the consultation phase to identify and address residents’ concerns about the pilot project.

Local councillor Harry Todd said that a number of people in the area still had concerns about traffic calming measures and boundary walls.

However, according to LMFM Senior Executive Officer and Acting Town Clerk, David Storey told councillors that before the work goes to final tender, the local authority’s roads section will prepare a technical report which would address the areas of concern.

Margaret Todd RIP

Sympathy has been extended to Dundalk Town Councillor Harry Todd and his family, following the passing of his wife Margaret at the weekend.

Margaret, from 76 Oakland Park, was hugely popular in the community and will be missed by all who knew her.

Funeral details are available from Dixon’s at 042-9334240.

RIP Margaret from all at Talk of the Town.

Source: Ollie Morgan (Facebook)