The new cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Charlie Boylan, flanked by party colleagues Paddy McDonald and Pauline McCauley following his election

Charlie Boylan becomes first Sinn Féin chair of Cavan County Council

HISTORY was created at the Cavan County Council AGM on Monday week last when one of Sinn Féin’s longest-serving and respected councillors, Charlie Boylan, was elected chair, becoming the first member of the party to hold the position.
He was proposed and seconded by party colleagues Pauline McCauley and Paddy McDonald. Councillor Boylan was elected unanimously having received support from both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Charlie was first elected to Cavan County Council in 1979.
Following his election, he said he will be seeking further development of the county and its roads infrastructure.  Among the issues he will be pushing is the development of the Virginia and Belturbet by-passes and a move on one for Ballinagh to allow the people of these towns have their communities back and not to be choked by traffic congestion.
He would also be to the forefront of raising housing and health issues.

COOTEHILL
There was further cause for celebration for Cavan Sinn Féin members as their good friend and colleague, Harry McCabe, was elected the new chair of Cootehill Town Council.
Councillor McCabe has hailed the spirit of cross-party co-operation in Cavan.  For years, Sinn Féin representatives were denied access to the senior posts on local councils.
He said he appreciated the support lent to him and also noted the role played by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil representatives in the election of his party colleague, Charlie Boylan, to the position of chairman of Cavan County Council.
Meanwhile, Councillor Brian McKeown has been re-elected to the position of vice-chair of Cavan Town Council.
Sinn Féin Dáil leader and Cavan/Monaghan TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin recorded his personal congratulations to his Cavan party colleagues:
“The unanimous selection of Councillor Charlie Boylan to the position of Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council is both highly deserved and long overdue.  A dedicated republican and committed servant of the people of the Breffni County, Charlie Boylan’s record of service over four decades has been exemplary.  Quiet and unassuming, he is, nevertheless, the outstanding ‘father figure’ of Irish republicanism in his native County Cavan.
“Charlie’s success in this last year of this term and the selection once again of Councillor Harry McCabe to the post of mayor of Cootehill Town Council, and Councillor Brian McKeown’s re-election to the deputy mayor position in Cavan Town Council, for the second consecutive year, reflects the growing relevance of Sinn Féin in County Cavan and augurs well for the profile of our party in the Breffni County as we face into next year’s critical electoral contests.”