New chairmen elected to county and town councils

Clara man Barry Cowen was elected Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council for the second time in as many years. The Fianna Fáil councillor was voted in at Monday's council AGM. He takes over, after a vote, from Fianna Fáil Cllr Noel Bourke and was previously Cathaoirleach from 2008 to 2009. His party colleague Cllr Danny Owens, was elected as Leas Cathaoirleach. Meanwhile, the new Cathaoirleach of Tullamore Town Council is Cllr Molly Buckley (FG) and the Leas-Cathaoirleach is Sinn Fein's Brendan Killeavy. In Birr, the new Cathaoirleach is Cllr Denis Shiels (Ind) and the Leas-Cathaoirleach is Fianna Fáil's Denis Tierney. While two weeks ago in Edenderry, Cllr Fergus McDonnell (Ind) became Cathaoirleach, while Cllr Jim Murrin became Leas-Cathaoirleach.