Published: Wednesday, 14th July, 2010 5:00pm

Double celebration for Chairman Burke

It's been an eventful week for Fine Gael councillor and one time election candidate, Peter Burke, who ascended to the chair of Westmeath County Council's Mullingar Area Committee on Monday last.

On Friday, the Clonmore man received word that he passed his final admission exam for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland, which he sat in Galway recently.

The news means that Cllr. Burke, who practices at Stephens Cooke & Co., Blackhall Place, Mullingar, is now a fully qualified accountant.

A former student of Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar, Peter studied Commerce at NUI Galway. He spent the past two years preparing for his accountancy exams, juggling his studies with work, and last year's local elections.

On Monday, he donned another feather in his cap, with his election as chairman of the Mullingar Area Committee after only a year as an elected representative. Recently, he was also chosen as Vice-Chairman of Mullingar Town Council. Cllr. Burke takes over from Labour's Cllr. Detty Cornally, with Cllr. Johnny Penrose elected as Vice-Chairman.

At Monday's Mullingar Area Committee meeting, Cllrs Fintan Cooney (Fine Gael) and Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fáil) led tributes to Cllr. Burke on his qualification as an accountant.