Naomh Conaill - champions for the eighth time in Donegal Picture Thomas Gallagher
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23 Oct 2025
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23 Oct 2025
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The new cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Paul Canning with family and friends at his election in Lifford
Cllr Paul Canning has been elected cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council.
The Manorcunningham Fianna Fáil representative was elected on Monday afternoon at the local authority’s annual general meeting, replacing independent Killybegs councillor Niamh Kennedy.
His party colleague Cllr Donal Mandy Kelly was elected leas-cathaoirleach, taking over from Fine Gael councillor Jimmy Kavanagh.
Cllr Canning, who was co-opted on to council in 2011, was nominated by Fianna Fáil Inishowen councillor Martin McDermott and seconded by Buncrana party colleague Fionán Bradley.
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He was joined in the council chamber in Lifford by his wife Stephanie, daughter Vanessa, parents Noel and Annie as well as members of his wider family circle and supporters.
Minister of State Charlie McConalogue and Fianna Fáil senator Niall Blaney were also in attendance.
Speaking after taking the cathoirleach’s chain, Cllr Canning described himself as a “man of few words”, adding that he does not want “any waffling and all of that, that goes on in this chamber”. “Forget about that political point-scoring - I am not interested.”
He added that he wants to be “fair, honest and straight with everyone”.
“I want to thank everyone for putting their trust in me as their incoming cathaoirleach,” he said.
“It is an honour for me and my family to get this opportunity.”
Congratulating Cllr Kennedy on her year as cathaoirleach, he said he wanted to continue on where she left off.
“You have set the bar very, very, very high,” he said.
Speaking of his parents, he joked that he had instructed them in recent weeks that they had one job, which was “to try and stay alive for today”.
A priority in the year ahead, he said, will be to ensure that the funding that the council has received in recent years for developments is delivered on.
“We as a council must put in an extra shift to ensure that these developments are commenced.”
He also said tourism must also be a priority to maximise the potential of the county’s “natural unspoilt landscape”.
Cllr Canning added that he was looking forward to working with everyone “in the hope of making Donegal a better place to live for everyone”.
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