Mayor aims to clean up Kilkenny

The new mayor of Kilkenny, Labour councillor Marie Fitzpatrick, has called for radical measures to curb late-night drinking and fast-food retailing in an effort to address public order problems.

New mayors were also elected yesterday in Galway and Monaghan.

Ms Fitzpatrick's proposals for early closing in Kilkenny will prove controversial because the city has become a leading weekend destination and an especially popular venue for "hen" and "stag" parties.

Ms Fitzpatrick, a widowed mother of five children, is a community youth and development officer who works on Department of Education-funded projects in Kilkenny.

She was elected last night with the support of Fine Gael and the Green Party who have been operating a pact with Labour since the last local elections.

Cllr Fitzpatrick believes pubs and fast-food outlets should close at midnight - a move which would dramatically impact on Kilkenny's "late-bar culture" where closing time can extend to 2am. She has also proposed "more policing on the streets" and a "Garda rapid-response unit to deal with trouble spots".

Her proposals are likely to prove controversial in a city where the local economy is heavily dependent on tourism.

Dozens of new hotels, restaurants and bars have opened to accommodate the influx of visitors. But gardaí have recently expressed concern about a number of "serious incidents" and last month persuaded the District Court to temporarily restrict late-bar licences to 1.30am.

Politicians of all parties have expressed concern that national media coverage of antisocial behaviour is damaging Kilkenny's reputation as a tourist venue.

Michael Lanigan, a prominent solicitor and Fianna Fáil councillor, has complained about radio stations allowing people to use "noms de radio" to criticise Kilkenny anonymously. RTÉ's Liveline programme has recently featured numerous callers who have experienced antisocial behaviour in the city.

During a brief debate before the vote for Kilkenny's new mayor last night, Fianna Fáil councillors appealed to the Green Party's sole council member, Malcolm Noonan, to vote for the Fianna Fáil candidate (Cllr John Coonan).

However, Cllr Noonan, despite admitting to "feeling politically quite confused at the moment" rejected the overtures and voted for the Labour candidate.

Meanwhile in Galway, Labour councillor Tom Costello has been elected mayor. Cllr Costello, who succeeds the Green Party's Niall Ó Brolcháin, was elected by unanimous vote at last night's city council meeting. An active trade unionist and sports fan, he lives in Castlegar, Galway, with his wife, Kathleen, and the couple have three children. Fine Gael county council member was elected mayor of Co Monaghan. Cllr Gary Carville, the mayor of Castleblayney, was unanimously made chairman of Monaghan County Council and new county mayor at yesterday's annual meeting in Carrickmacross.