Laois municipal district welcomes new Cathaoirleach

Cllr Ben Brennan has been elected as Cathaoirleach for the Graiguecullen/Portarlington MD

Published 18th Jun 2026, 17:25 BST Cllr Ben Brennan was also elected as Cathaoirleach in 2023. Cllr Ben Brennan has been elected as Cathaoirleach for the Graiguecullen/Portarlington MD Sign up to our Laois Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Laois Live within your account.

The Graiguecullen/Portarlington MD has welcomed a new Cathaoirleach and Leas-Cathaoirleach.

The now former Cathaoirleach of the municipal district, Councillor Vivienne Phelan, has passed on the baton to Councillor Ben Brennan who served as Leas-Cathaoirleach for the past year.

The councillors of the Graiguecullen/Portarlington MD gathered to elect their new chairperson and vice chairperson at the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, June 17.

The outgoing Cathaoirleach, Cllr Phelan, thanked her fellow councillors for their cooperation throughout the year and wished Cllr Brennan, who was absent from the meeting, luck in his new role.

“I’d like to thank all my colleagues for their cooperation throughout the year, the management team, and everyone who helped us get through the meetings and business of the meetings. I’d like to wish Cllr Brennan all the best for the next 12 months,” the Stradbally councillor said.

Cllr Brennan was proposed as Cathaoirleach by fellow Independent Cllr Aidan Mullins.

“I think he will slot into the role very comfortably and he’s a very enthusiastic and competent individual. He’ll take to it like a duck to water,” Cllr Mullins told the council.

The Crettyard councillor previously served as Cathaoirleach for the district from June 2023 to June 2024.

Commenting on his election to the role, Julie Bergin, Director of Services and Manager of the Graiguecullen/Portarlington Municipal District, said: "I would like to sincerely thank Cllr Vivienne Phelan for her outstanding work and commitment during her term as Chair of the Graiguecullen/Portarlington Municipal District. It has been a pleasure working alongside her over the past year.

“I would also like to extend my best wishes to Cllr Ben Brennan as he takes on the role of Chair for the coming year. I look forward to working with him and supporting the continued progress of the Municipal District."

Cllr Phelan put forward her fellow Stradbally councillor, Paschal McEvoy, for the role of Leas-Cathaoirleach.

Welcoming his election as Leas-Cathaoirleach, Cllr McEvoy said: “I look forward to working with you all. It’s great to get that position.”

Related topics: Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District Cllr Ben Brennan Cllr Paschal McEvoy Sign up to our Laois Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Laois Live within your account.