McDaniel elected mayor of Athlone Moate MD

Cllr Liam McDaniel has been elected mayor of the Athlone Moate Municipal District, succeeding Cllr Vinny McCormack following a year in office marked by progress on road safety, town regeneration and community development initiatives.

Cllr Frankie Keena was elected as deputy mayor, having served on the Westmeath County Council for a milestone 30 years. His colleagues in the chamber commended him for his dedication to his community. “It may have been a common occurrence years ago. With the challenges of being a public representative today, it’s a very rare achievement. He’s an outstanding public servant,” said Cllr McCormack.

Speaking directly to Cllr Keena, Cllr McDaniel added: “You set the bar for us all. You’re a great colleague.”

Accepting the chain of office at the district AGM, Cllr McDaniel said it was a “great privilege” to once again serve as mayor and thanked his fellow councillors for placing their confidence in him.

“I have always been proud to represent the Athlone Moate district,” he said, while paying tribute to his predecessor for his service and leadership over the last year.

Cllr McDaniel, who previously served as mayor five years ago, reflected on the challenges he faced during that term due to ill-health. He expressed gratitude for the support he received from colleagues, council staff, family, friends and the wider community during that period.

“With a little bit of luck and better health, I hope this year will go more smoothly than the last time,” he said.

Looking ahead, the new mayor outlined a number of priorities for the year ahead, including road safety, housing, tackling dereliction, regeneration projects and community development. He also pledged to work towards ensuring balanced progress across Athlone, the district’s towns and villages, and rural communities.

Cllr McDaniel said he hoped to use his term to support and promote community initiatives and to recognise the contribution made by volunteers and local organisations throughout the district.

He also acknowledged the work of Westmeath County Council staff and local media, thanking them for their professionalism and continued support.

Outgoing mayor Cllr Vinny McCormack reflected on what he described as one of the greatest honours of his life. “It has been an immense privilege not only for me, but also for my family,” he said.

Looking back on the year, Cllr McCormack highlighted a number of achievements, particularly in the area of road safety. He pointed to the establishment of a dedicated annual fund for speed reduction measures at schools across the district, describing it as a significant achievement that would benefit communities for years to come.

“Every parent wants to know that their child can travel safely to and from school,” he said.

He also highlighted progress in implementing traffic calming measures in towns and villages and spoke positively about the district’s growing relationship with Providence following visit earlier this year.

Among the developments he welcomed were ongoing efforts to advance an expanded Living City Initiative in Athlone and discussions surrounding the Future City vision proposed by Sean Mulryan and the Ballymore Group.

Cllr McCormack also praised the work of town teams in Kilbeggan and Moate, saying their commitment and energy were already delivering visible improvements in both communities.

One of the highlights of his term, he said, was presiding over the naming of the Mary O’Rourke Bridge in Athlone in the presence of An Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

“It was a fitting and lasting tribute to a woman who made an enormous contribution to Athlone, to Westmeath, and to Ireland,” he said.

As he concluded his term, Cllr McCormack thanked council staff, fellow councillors, community groups and volunteers for their support and wished the incoming mayor every success in the year ahead.

“The Athlone Moate Municipal District is fortunate to have passionate representatives, dedicated staff and vibrant communities,” he said. “Together, we have achieved a great deal during the past year, but there is still much more to accomplish.”