Cllr Martin Harley is new cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council

Ballybofey businessman Martin Harley is the new cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council. The Fine Gael councillor was returned unopposed at Monday afternoon's annual general meeting at the County House in Lifford.

The Ballybofey-based businessman not only has strong ties with the entire Finn Valley region due to his 14 years on the council but has family roots in his native Frosses area in south-west Donegal.

His colleagues at the meeting paid tribute and lauded his many attributes describing him as a proven, a capable and experienced councillor with a proven track record and a work rate to match any.

A native of Frosses was educated at Frosses N.S. and the Abbey Vocational School in Donegal Town. On leaving he took up a position with An Post in Dublin and worked there for a number of years before returning to his native county and came to work with the company in the Twin Towns.

There he met his wife, Denise, and settled in the area and became very active in the community through his work, drama, sport, voluntary and community groups and of course, politics. Tributes were also paid to Denise and their children Ryan, Natalie, Hannah, Gavin and the late Kim for their support and influence on Cllr Harley's career over the years.

Cllr Harley has represented the Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District with great enthusiasm since first elected in 2009. He retained his seat in 2014 and topped the poll in 2019. He has been cathaoirleach of the municipal district twice, chairman of the Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) in 2018-19 and currently hold the position of treasurer of the Donegal Vintners' Association. He is also a past chairman of Ballybofey United and the Balor Theatre.

The meeting heard Cllr Harley has a healthy appetite for solving local issues and representing the people of the area. 

He has stated on many occasions that his door is always open to members of the community who have a query or who seek advice on different issues at any time.

At Monday afternoon's annual general meeting his party colleague, Letterkenny's Jimmy Kavanagh said the new cathaoirleach would bring plenty of experience to the role

"He has been the leader of our group on the council since 2019 and has a proven ability to work well with all the members across party politics and political differences. That will stand him in good stead for the year ahead," he said.

He added it was also a proud day for his local supporters and family members from Ballybofey and Frosses.

He was seconded by party colleagues Cllr Johnny McGuinness and Cllr Barry Sweeny.

Cllr Harley reflected on his years as a puboic representative saying he was always happy to put his area and Donegal to the fore at all times and was looking forward to the many challenges in his year on office.

He added he was going to place men's mental health, education and tourism issues high on his agenda while in office.

The position of leas-cathaoirleach was filled by Sinn Féin's Cllr Gerry McMonagle. He was proposed for the job by his colleagues Cllr Jack Murray and Cllr John Sheamais O'Fearraigh.

Tributes were also paid to the outgoing cathaoirleach Cllr Liam Blaney and leas-cathaoirleach Cllr Micheál Naughton for all their work and dedication to their respective jobs over the past term too.