Warm welcome for 'Boxer's' replacement in Council chamber

Incoming Junior Minister Kevin 'Boxer' Moran's replacement on Westmeath County Council, John Gibbons, was given a very warm welcome when he took his council seat for the first time at the January meeting of Athlone Moate Municipal District earlier this week.

Cllr Gibbons was co-opted without any opposition from sitting councillors on the Athlone Moate Municipal District.

This was in sharp contrast to the scenario that unfolded when 'Boxer' Moran's son Jamie sought to co-opt his father onto the local authority after his unexpected resignation from the council early in 2022.

'Boxer' was no longer an elected representative at the time, having lost his Dail seat in the general election of 2020. However, the attempt to co-opt him onto the vacant council seat was thwarted when sitting councillors on the Athlone Moate Municipal District voted by a 12-6 majority in favour of Independent and former Sinn Féin member, Paul Hogan.

Cllr Hogan subsequently retained his seat in the local elections of June 2024.

At the time 'Boxer' Moran slammed the move to co-opt Paul Hogan as a “power grab for an independent seat by a government-driven combination of Fianna Fáil/Greens”.

Despite this, there was no sign of any division or rancour at this week's meeting of the municipal district, with the new Cllr Gibbons' colleagues of all political hues extending a warm hand of friendship to him and offering to assist him in any way they can as he navigates the sometimes choppy waters of the local political scene.

Athlone Mayor Cllr Frankie Keena, was the first member to congratulate Cllr Gibbons and welcome him to the council chamber. "We are all here to work together and we will assist you in any way we can," he said.

Among the other councillors to offer congratulations and pledges of assistance were Johnny Penrose; Tom Farrell; Vinny McCormack; Paul Hogan and John Dolan.

On behalf of the council executive, Director of Services Jackie Finney also welcomed John Gibbons and advised him to "pick up the phone at any stage" to any member of the executive if he has a query.

In a short statement to members, Cllr Gibbons thanked his family and supporters and said he had "big shoes to fill" in taking over the seat vacated by 'Boxer' Moran.

He said the road ahead will be both "exciting and challenging" and that he was looking forward to working with the public and with the various community groups to make Athlone a better place to live, work, and do business in.

Having canvassed the Municipal District extensively over the years, the new Independent councillor said he was "well aware of the issues" that need to be addressed and would work to the best of his ability over the next four and a half years.

When he announced his plans to propose the Garnafailagh man as his replacement on the council last December, 'Boxer' described him as "a close friend and ally" and someone who had been with him "through thick and thin".

* See next week's Westmeath Independent for an interview with Cllr John Gibbons.