Longford’s new first citizen Garry Murtagh hailed as ‘a man of his word and of the people’

There were warm congratulations for new Cathoirleach Garry Murtagh from fellow councillors at the Longford County Council AGM last Friday where he was described as a 'man of the people'.

Fine Gael's Peggy Nolan recalled meeting him for the first time after he was first elected in 2019 and she stated she was proud of him and proud to know him.

"You were new, you were enthusiastic and you just couldn't wait to make a difference.

"So, Garry all I have to say is I'm very proud to know you, I'm proud to know the man you are."

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Cllr Nolan said Cllr Murtagh is a great community person and conversationalist and she stated she had no doubt it would be a fantastic year for him at the helm of the local authority.

"The most striking thing about Garry Murtagh is you're a man of your word and you're a man of the people, you want your county to do better and most importantly you want your municipal district to do better."

Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Mick Cahill congratulated Cllr Murtagh  on being elevated to Cathaoirleach of county Longford and the Colehill man said it was a marvellous achievement for any member to aspire to in the chamber.

"I suppose one of my wishes in the last 20 years is that everybody would get the opportunity to be Cathaoirleach. I think it's a tremendous honour for members who take up the role representing their communities.

"There is no better man than you Garry, you have lots of experience, personality and work ethic and I have no doubt the county will benefit from it in a big way.

"We certainly will be supportive and I have a huge belief in being fully supportive of the Cathaoirleach in everything he does for the county and at meetings."

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Fianna Fáil Councillor Seamus Butler said it was a great honour for Cllr Murtagh.

"I have known you since the Longford Community Resources days when I was chair of that.

"I know you as a dedicated community worker and you have worked on the ground for a long time and that was reflected hugely in the record vote that you got in the local elections in 2024.”

Cllr Butler said Cllr Murtagh had shown dedication as a 'man, a sportsman and a family man'.

"You have everything going for you and we are not there to undermine you in any way but to support you in your leadership for the next 12-months in which I wish you very well."

All of the representatives  congratulated Cllr Murtagh.

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Several councillors were also appointed to lead the Longford County Council SPC's.

Cllr Paul Ross will take the helm of the Social Development SPC and Cllr Turlough McGovern will chair the Physical Development SPC.

Cllr Pat O'Toole has been appointed to lead the Governance SPC,  while Cllr Mark Casey will chair the Economic, Enterprise, and Rural Development SPC.

Cllr Seamus Butler is moving from the Governance SPC to Physical Development SPC.

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