Belmullet publican chosen as Mayo nomination to the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta

A BELMULLET publican and businessman has been nominated as the Mayo County Council representative to sit on the board of Údaras na Gaeltachta.

Well-known Belmullet publican and undertaker, Padraic Conroy was nominated by Mayo County Council as its nominee to be appointed to the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta.

The Erris native, who owns McDonnell’s Pub in Belmullet, has served as the Mayo representative on the board for the last two years and will now continue to sit on the board for another two year term.

Mayo County Council is entitled to nominate a person to the board to represent the Gaeltacht areas of Erris, Achill and Tourmakeady.

The nomination process came before the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council on Monday where Mr Conroy was the only name put forward by the council. He was proposed by his fellow Erris-man Fianna Fáil councillor Seán Carey and seconded by party colleague, Cllr Paul McNamara from Achill.

Fionnuala Nic Phaidin, Irish Language Officer with Mayo County Council had earlier informed councillors that the Minister of State for the Gaeltacht had invited Mayo County Council to nominate an individual to the board of Udaras na Gaeltachta for a two year term to end on December 31, 2026.

Under the provisions of the Gaeltacht Act 2012, the Minister will appoint one ordinary member to the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta following the nomination made by Mayo County Council from amongst its members. If no member of the Council is available, or if no member is considered suitable for appointment, the Council may nominate an individual it considers representative of one or more of the Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas in County Mayo.

Ms Nic Phaidin explained that any nominee should be fully competent in Irish and have experience in areas relevant to the functioning of the Údarás, including the promotion of the Irish language and language planning, enterprise development and creation of employment, community development, and the promotion of the Arts.

She added that the Minister must consider the appropriateness of the board’s gender balance when making appointments and, as such, the Council is requested to make every effort to nominate a woman for this role.

In nominating Mr Conroy for the position, Cllr Carey explained that Mr Conroy has served on the board for the last two years and in that time has been working hard in promoting the three Mayo Gaeltacht areas.

The nomination was seconded by Cllr McNamara and agreed by all the members of Mayo County Council.

Mr Conroy had been selected as the Údarás na Gaeltachta nominee for a seat in Seanad Éireann in December but subsequently withdrew his nomination.