Golf Club General Manager is co-opted onto county council

THERE is a new county councillor in town after Mark Lynch, who works as General Manager of Edmondstown Golf Club, was co-opted to replace Cllr Laura Donaghy on Monday evening.

A merry-go-round of who sits where in the council chamber has been underway for a number of months, with Cllr Donaghy resigning her seat in Rathfarnham-Templeogue Local Electoral Area (LEA) in January.

The Green Party representative, Cllr Donaghy, lives in Clondalkin, then replaced former Cllr Peter Kavanagh in the Clondalkin LEA following his resignation last year.

However, this created a casual vacancy in the Rathfarnham-Templeogue LEA.

At the full monthly meeting of South Dublin County Council on Monday, Mark Lynch was ratified as a new county councillor representing Rathfarnham-Templeogue.

Proposed by Cllr Donaghy and seconded by Cllr Lyn Hagin Meade, both referenced his strong business acumen and diligent community work as reasons why Lynch would make a good councillor.

Mark Lynch has served as the general manager of Edmondstown Golf Club in Rathfarnham since 2012, having worked as the GM of Castleknock Golf Club the four years previous.

“I will serve this council and my constituents to the best of my ability,” Cllr Lynch told the council chamber following his official ratification.

Cllr Donaghy welcomed the new representative to the councillor ranks.

“For over a decade, Mark’s been a champion for sustainable development and sustainable practices in his community, in business and across wider society,” Cllr Donaghy said in support of her nomination.

“Mark’s embedded in his local community, he’s taken on responsibility in local residents groups, sports clubs and community groups before becoming involved in the local Green Party.

“He has served tirelessly as our secretary for our party branch and we’d be delighted to welcome him as one of our local representatives.”