New chief executive appointed to Westmeath County Council

After many years of service as a senior official with Westmeath County Council, Barry Kehoe was this week appointed as the new chief executive of the local authority.

He replaces Pat Gallagher, who had been chief executive of the county council for ten years but stepped down earlier this year.

Mr Kehoe had been serving as acting chief executive since February, and his permanent appointment to the role was formally approved by the elected members at their meeting today (Monday).

He had served as a director of services with the council for many years, and was selected for the top role in the local authority following a recruitment process by the Public Appointments Service.

Mr Kehoe has worked closely with Athlone-area county councillors for a long number of years.

Until he took up the acting chief executive role this year, he was the most senior council official in attendance at each of the monthly meetings of the Athlone Moate Municipal District.