Tipperary's 'Rocky' steps into the council ring as new electoral area Cathaoirleach

Lowry team member Cllr John “Rocky” McGrath has been elected as Cathaoirleach of Nenagh Municipal District Council.

Cllr McGrath, who represents the Newport Electoral Area, takes over from Nenagh town based Cllr Hughie McGrath.

He is the fifth and final Cathaoirleach of the current council and the fifth Independent councillor to be chosen as Cathaoirleach in this council’s lifetime. The next local elections are scheduled for June 7, 2024.

“I have no intention to change the world,” said Cllr McGrath in his acceptance speech. “The only way to get things done is humbly and with unity.”

Cllr McGrath said that, as Cathaoirleach, he wanted to “be there for everybody and to be fair to everybody”.

He described his fellow councillors as a “remarkable bunch of people”, and said that the council staff and executive were “exceptional”.

“I hope to be guided by the executive and you,” he said.

Cllr McGrath said that he was looking forward to his year in office, and pointed out that while he had had a “trying time health-wise” recently, he said that he had “got over that”.

Cllr McGrath was proposed as Cathaoirleach by fellow Lowry Team member Cllr Michael O’Meara and seconded by Nenagh’s Cllr Seamus Morris.

Cllr O’Meara said that proposing Cllr McGrath was a “moment I’ve been waiting for for some time. He is a great friend of mine.”

Cllr Morris highlighted that Cllr McGrath had gone through a “tough time” health-wise but had “bounced back”.

Congratulating Cllr McGrath, county Chief Executive Joe MacGrath said that being elected was a “proud day for you and your community”.

Fellow Newport councillor Fiona Bonfield wished Cllr McGrath the best of luck, and said that she was “delighted you are back to good health”.

Cllr John Carroll described Cllr McGrath as being “very measured and very calm” and said he was a person who could bring people with him.

Cllr Joe Hannigan said both he and Cllr McGrath went back a long way through the GAA and said he looked forward to working with the new Cathaoirleach.

Wishing him all the best for the coming year, Cllr Ger Darcy described Cllr McGrath as being “passionate” about his local area.

Cllr Phyll Bugler and Cllr Hughie McGrath both wished Cllr McGrath well in his new role.

District administrator Rosemary Joyce said that she looked forward to working with Cllr McGrath.

District Manager Marcus O’Connor also wished Cllr McGrath the best, saying he was sure it would be a successful one.

In his outgoing speech, Cllr Hughie McGrath said that he had a “good and a quick year” in office.

It was a privilege to be Cathaoirleach, he said, but pointed out that “you don’t deliver anything as an individual. Unless you have the backing of other members, you are going nowhere.”

He said that the members and council staff had made the role an easy position to do.

Cllr McGrath highlighted the lighting of the N52 bypass as one of his achievements and said that he hoped the project would continue to light more of the roadway.

Tributes were paid to Cllr McGrath by his fellow councillors and by the council executive.