The most recent member of the Lenihan political dynasty has become Athlone town Mayor with unanimous support from the members of the town’s municipal district.

Cllr. Aengus O’Rourke is the son of former Minister Mary O’Rourke, and cousin of the late Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan Jnr.   O’Rourke’s grandfather, PJ Lenihan was a TD for Longford/Westmeath in the early 1960s, and uncle, Brian Lenihan Snr. was a seven time Minister.

The new Athlone Mayor for 2017/18 saw his candidature proposed on Monday afternoon by his Fianna Fail colleague, Cllr. Frankie Keena, and seconded by Fine Gael’s Cllr. Tom Farrell. He also got support from Independent member, Cllr. Michael O’Brien, and there was no other challenger to Cllr. O’Rourke, writes David Flynn.

Mayor Aengus O’Rourke joined Athlone Town Council in 2009, and when it became a municipal district in 2014, he won his seat back. Also in 2014, he was the Fianna Fail candidate in the Longford/Westmeath by-election, following the death of Deputy Nicky McFadden. In the election he came second to the then Deputy Gabrielle McFadden.

O’Rourke is a popular member of Athlone Municipal District, and was Deputy Mayor in 2014/15 to his Fianna Fail colleague, Frankie Keena.

Former Minister Mary O’Rourke was in the public gallery alongside other members of Mayor O’Rourke’s family, including his wife Lisa and their children.

The new Deputy Mayor of Athlone is Cllr. Frankie Keena having being proposed by Fine Gael’s Cllr. John Dolan and seconded by Cllr. Farrell.  He was also supported unanimously, and endorsed by Sinn Fein’s Cllr. Paul Hogan.