Westmeath's Glass Ceiling "Made Of Concrete" As Councillors Opt Against Female Cathaoirleach

They're the words of Labour councillor Denis Leonard following the election earlier today.

Westmeath County Council has decided not to elect its first ever female cathaoirleach. 

Fianna Fáil’s Frankie Keena took the position of first citizen by 12 votes against eight votes for Fine Gael's Emily Wallace.

Councillor Keena was supported by members of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and indepdent Mick Dollard.

Proposing Councillor Wallace for the role, her party colleague Tom Farrell said the elected members should feel the hand of history on their shoulders as they voted for or against a progressive young woman. 

Seconding Wallace, Labour’s Denis Leonard said the roll of honour for cathaoirligh had become ‘homogenous.’ He said Westmeath’s glass ceiling tends to be made of concrete. 

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