Cllr Andrea McKevitt was elected as the Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Municipal District for the 2026–2027 term of office at the Annual General Meeting held in the Town Hall, Dundalk on Tuesday, 9 June.
Cllr McKevitt was nominated for the position by Cllr Seán Kelly and seconded by Cllr Shane McGuinness. Cllr Sionnain McCann was nominated by Cllr Kevin Meenan and seconded by Cllr Antoin Watters. Following a roll-call vote, Cllr McKevitt was elected by seven votes to four, with two councillors abstaining. Cllr John Reilly was subsequently elected as Leas Cathaoirleach.
In her address to the Chamber, Cllr McKevitt said: “It will be an honour to serve this district as Cathaoirleach for the coming year. Since the abolition of Dundalk Town Council in 2014, no native from the Carlingford side of Dundalk–Carlingford Municipal District has held this position, so this election is for the people of the Cooley Peninsula. Representation at this level carries real significance, and I am deeply honoured to have the opportunity to represent our community in this role.
“My family’s steadfast support has meant more to me than they will ever know. I want to thank my husband, Conor, who keeps me grounded when things get hectic, and I also want to say a very special thank you to my grandfather, Steffie, who turned 94 recently. He has been the driving force behind my political journey from the very beginning and one of my biggest inspirations in life.”
Cllr McKevitt also paid tribute to outgoing Cathaoirleach Cllr Robert Nash, stating: “Cllr Nash has been an exceptional ambassador for this town and has done himself and his family incredibly proud over the past year. I have greatly appreciated the time, encouragement, and support he has offered me and others during his term as Cathaoirleach.
“Following in the footsteps of Cllr Nash – and previous Cathaoirleach of Dundalk MD, Cllr Seán Kelly – will certainly not be easy, as they have both carried out this role with great dedication, professionalism, and pride. I only hope I can do the position the same justice in the year ahead.
“I also want to acknowledge Chief Executive David Conway and the management team of Louth County Council for their continued support, with a special word of appreciation to Sinéad Dooley, the Meetings Administrator, who works so effectively and diligently behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly.”
David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council, said: “On behalf of the executive of Louth County Council, I would like to congratulate Cllr McKevitt on her election, and we look forward to working closely with her over the coming year. We are committed to building a strong and collaborative working relationship with the Cathaoirleach to deliver on key priorities for Dundalk Municipal District, ensuring continued progress for communities, businesses and residents across the area.
“I would also like to thank Cllr Robert Nash, who was exemplary in promoting the town of Dundalk and doing what was best for the citizens of the area. He always tried to do things the right way, and the amount of work he carried out throughout his year in office was exemplary.”
