Barry Kehoe takes up acting chief executive role at county council

Barry Kehoe has been appointed as the acting chief executive of Westmeath County Council.

He had been a director of services with the local authority for many years.

Mr Kehoe is replacing Pat Gallagher, who stepped down in January after holding the chief executive role since 2014.

Replacing Mr Kehoe as director of services is Ambrose Clarke, who has been promoted from the position of senior engineer with the council.

At an Economic Development and Tourism SPC held on Thursday, February 22, Cllr John Shaw welcomed the executive reshuffle.

“Barry [Kehoe] has been director of services for our SPC for the last few years and has got a well-deserved promotion as acting chief executive,” he said.

“I’d also like to welcome Ambrose Clarke to his new role [as director of services].”

The powers of a chief executive include granting or refusing planning permission, allocating social housing, and controlling the day-to-day running of the local authority.