COUNCILLOR Jimmy Kavanagh has dedicated his year as Mayor of Letterkenny to his late brother.

The Fine Gael member was elected to the post at this month’s municipal district annual general meeting held in the Aura leisure centre. It is the second time in four years he has held the chain of office.

Sinn Féin’s Gerry McMonagle will serve as his deputy.

Councillor Kavanagh’s voice cracked with emotion as he accepted the role in memory of his brother Páidin who passed away three months ago.

“I will be dedicating my work to my brother Páidin who we lost in April,” he told his council colleagues and family members gathered.

“He was a great support and influence and was always ready with a witty remark. I would like to thank him for that.”

Councillor Kavanagh said these were “exciting times” for Letterkenny with a number of high profile projects progressing. He cited the redevelopment of the Market Square, the ongoing transformation of the Cathedral Quarter  and the revival of Lower Main Street among the schemes under way or due to get under way over the next 12 months.

The single biggest challenge for the county though will be mica, Councillor Kavanagh said.

“We have a huge challenge in supporting every family that has had this visited upon them and it has to be our first priority – those who are watching their homes disintegrate.

“But we also need to be aware of those who bought second homes in Donegal. They invested in this county when they could have chosen an easier option. They deserve a sympathetic ear and redress as well.”

Enhancing links with Letterkenny’s twin town of Rudolstadt in Germany and capitalising on the opportunities remote working are predicted to create are among other priorities, Mr Kavanagh added.

Outgoing Mayor Donal Coyle said it had been a “challenging year for everyone” and added that he wanted to reflect on all those who had lost their lives to Covid-19.

He too pointed to mica as a major issue for Donegal, one he said had created “torture and turmoil” for many families.

Councillor Coyle said he wanted to commend the Tidy Towns group for their efforts and the Chamber of Commerce for the contact they maintained throughout his mayorship.

He also added that having a Donegal politician around the Cabinet table was hugely important for the county.

The new Direct Provision Centre was developed during Donal Coyle’s time in office. He said the way refugees were welcomed to Letterkenny was a source of pride for him.

“The majority of people welcomed it and from all I can see – the integration of children into our schools and some of the adults getting involved in voluntary organisations – it shows that we are not just a small local town but that we are more cosmopolitan than a lot of areas.”