The sister of Ballina Senator Mark Duffy has been co-opted to replace him as a councillor on Mayo County Council.
Marie-Therese Duffy, a primary teacher from Ballina , is replacing her brother Mark who was elected as a Senator earlier this year.
He had secured a seat as an Independent Mayo councillor for the Ballina electoral area last June, and just a short time later decided to join Fine Gael and contested the General Election in Mayo for the party.
He failed to get elected last November as a TD but was elected as a Senator in January’s Seanad Eireann elections
As Mark had been elected as an Independent councillor on Mayo County Council , his replacement had to also be Independent and so needed to receive support from no less than 20 members of the council.
When the item was raised at yesterday’s monthly meeting of Mayo County Council Marie-Therese name was proposed by Fine Gael councillor Jarlath Munnelly and seconded by Fianna Fail councillor Michael Loftuis.
There was no counter proposal although former Ballina based councillor Willie Nolan, who had indicated a desire to take the seat, did attempt to address yesterday’s meeting, but was not allowed to do so.
As there was full agreement from all sitting councillors to Ms Duffy’s nomination she was deemed co-opted onto the local authority.
Senator Duffy was in the chamber to congratulate his sister.
