New Mayor backs sports complex

New Mayor backs complex plan


THE new Mayor of Killarney, Cllr Tom Doherty is giving his full support to the Killarney Sports and Leisure Complex and believes the recently re-issued tenders will come back within budget.
The Fianna Fáil Councillor says the town has a responsibility to provide such a complex in order to promote a healthier lifestyle amongst its young people.
Mayor Doherty refused to be drawn on whether he would still support the project if the tenders return over budget.
“We will just have to wait and see how far over budget the tenders are. I would be hopeful they would be close to our budget and the project would go ahead.
“Too many of our young peoples’ lives revolve around television and there is a big problem with obesity so it is important that Killarney Town Council does everything in its power to offer young people a healthier lifestyle,” he said.
The 37-year-old computer instructor from Lissivigeen says becoming Mayor of Killarney is a great honour for both himself and his family.
The second eldest of Jim and Kathleen Doherty’s five children the new Mayor has always had an interest in politics and this is his second time serving as a Killarney Town Councillor. He was a member of the town council between 1994 and 1999 but lost his seat in the 1999 Local Government Elections.
However he regained his seat in the 2004 Local Government Elections.
“It was a great honour to be elected Mayor of Killarney and it was a very proud moment for me and my family. My family have always been very active in politics. My father was a great support of the former TD John O’Leary during his 30 year unbroken term in office. I am looking forward to the year ahead and the many challenges facing us,” he said.
Mayor Doherty says one of the challenges facing Killarney is securing an alternative employer for the former Pretty Polly site.
“I would like to see an indigenous industry going into the factory as so many overseas companies are relocating to the Asian countries.
“It is frustrating at the moment as there is a lot of paper work to be done before the factory is owned by Killarney Town Council but in the meantime I will be working closely and taking the advice of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and anyone else who has a view on how the site could be forwarded to provide employment for Killarney and the surrounding areas,” he said.
Mayor Doherty is also concerned about the recent increase in crime in Killarney and is calling for CCTV to be installed on the main streets as a deterrent. During his term as Mayor he also hopes to make Killarney ‘easily recognisable as a disability friendly town’.

The Kerryman newspaper