'It was a great honour for me to carry the chain': Councillor Donal 'Mandy' Kelly

The outgoing Mayor of Letterkenny, Councillor Donal 'Mandy' Kelly has reflected on a year filled with emotions of all kinds.

Councillor Kelly took the chain of office last June and was busy in the role until he handed over to Councillor Kevin Bradley at the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District AGM.

he Creeslough explosion is a memory forever etched on Councillor Kelly's mind.

“It was an awful tragedy,” he said. “My thoughts and prayers still go out to those who lost loved ones.”

Councillor Kelly had a particular focus on housing during his term. Recently, Donegal County Council purchased two substantial pieces of land, amounting to 22 acres, that will cater for over 340 new houses.

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He welcomed increases in the HAP payments and the scheme to deal with derelict properties, but defective blocks remains the elephant in many rooms.

He said: “We are pushing hard to get the right scheme in place and we will continue to push hard. I will stand by it to the bitter end.”

A farmer by trade, Councillor Kelly has liaised closely with the Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue.

Councillor Kelly noted the completion of the first phase of the Letterkenny linear park, the progress made on the 110-bed community hospital and the now advancing Four Lane project in the town.

The draft plan for Letterkenny will add 4,500 new homes, with the town set to be able to accommodate an addition 15,000 more people and provide 6,000 jobs.

Councillor Kelly paid tribute to the recently-retired Ian McGarvey, who he described as a 'living legend'.

“It was an absolute honour for me and my family to represent the people of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District as Mayor,” Councillor Kelly, who welcomed the Polish and Ukrainian ambassadors to the MD during his year, said. “To say that I enjoyed the year would be an understatement. It was absolutely brilliant and it was a great honour for me to carry the chain.

“I came in at a raw enough time, but it done me the world of good.

“I said that I would represent the people to the best of my ability and I hope that I have done that.”

The incoming Mayor, Councillor Kevin Bradley, praised the work of his predecessor, saying: “It wasn't easy to come in when he came in. He was very fair, he attended everything and he did a very good job.”