08 July 2003: Fianna Fail Cllr Michael Fitzpatrick from Allenwood has been elected the new mayor for the county.
He is the 36th person to hold the office of chairman of Kildare County Council and succeeds Fine Gael Councillor Jim Reilly (on right at left) of Carbury.
Cllr Fitzpatrick is a native of Co Cavan but yesterday declared himself a true Kildare man after spending the last 40 years in the county.
He comes from a farming background.
He served in the Garda Síochána in Robertstown, Tullow and Athy. While stationed in Robertstown he married local woman Maureen Roche of Allenwood and returned to County Kildare in 1972 to take up the position of manager of tourism projects in Robertstown.
He also worked as a sales representative and insurance agent from the mid 1970s to 1989 and was an auctioneer and assurance/insurance agent to 1992. He has worked as personal assistant to Charlie McCreevy TD, during the latter’s terms as Minister for Social Welfare, Tourism and Trade and Finance.
He was elected to Kildare County Council in 1999. He has been involved in several local community organisations and is still: a member of the board of management of Schoil Mhuire, Clane; St Wolstan’s School, Celbridge; Maynooth Post-Primary School; and St Conleth’s Post-Primary School Newbridge.
He is also chairman of Allenwood Community Development Assoc Plc, Robertstown Development Assoc and the Donadea 9/11 Memorial Committee; a member of Allenwood Residents Assoc, of County Kildare Vocational Education Committee. He is also a board member of the Midlands and East Region Tourism Organisation, Co Kildare Fáilte, The OAK Partnership and KELT. He is also a former member of his party’s national executive.
His was the only nomination for the post. FG Cllr Billy Hillis was the only member nominated for the post of deputy mayor and was duly elected.
