History written as biggest Mayo municipal district gets its first female 'Mayor'

by Caoimhín Rowland

Councillor Donna Sheridan has been elected as the first female cathaoirleach of the Castlebar Municipal District in a historic move.

Her nomination by Fine Gael party colleague Councillor Ger Deere, seconded by Councillor Cyril Burke, was met with unanimous support, reflecting a strong sense of unity and progress within the county town chamber.

Councillor Deere hailed Councillor Sheridan’s election as both historic and fitting, noting that Sheridan was already the first female councillor of the municipal district.

He reminisced about his own history of nominating women for key roles, including Noreen Heston as Mayor of the former Castlebar Town Council and what he described as a then controversial move to nominate Sinn Féin councillor Therese Ruane to a deputy position.

Councillor Deere noted his move then “raised a few eyebrows, but it proved a wise move then” and he said he was happy to continue the tradition of nominating women for roles.

He also praised Sheridan's achievements over the past five years, highlighting her rapid rise in local politics after entering it as 'a relative unknown' in 2019.

The Balla native's “meticulous and forensic approach” was also lauded by Councillor Deere, noting that such qualities are exactly what “taxpayers and ratepayers expect from public service.”