FINE Gael councillor Jim Finucane said he was honoured to be the first Mayor of the Tralee Municipal District of Kerry County Council.

Cllr Finucane was elected Mayor at the first meeting of the District on Friday morning.

He was proposed for the position by Cllr Terry O’Brien (Lab) and seconded by Cllr Pat McCarthy (FG).

“It’s a great honour to be Mayor at a crucial time for the town. We need to harness what we have and to drive forward a growth agenda from the point of view of business and job creation. I hope to focus my 12 months on that particular agenda. Tralee is a great town and we need to believe in it and work for it,” Mayor Finucane told TraleeToday.ie after the meeting.

Mayor Finucane earlier addressed the meeting and outlined his objectives for the coming year.

These included the finalisation of the ITT’s purchase of the Technology Park and getting Technological Status for the ITT; to bring the Regional Rose of Tralee finals back to Tralee and the development of a permanent home for the Festival; the development of the Denny Factory site; resolving parking issues and enhancing the attractiveness of the town centre and focussing on job creation by meeting with the IDA, hosting the American Ireland Chamber of Commerce in the town and bringing the Shannon LNG matter to the Taoiseach.

Cllr Terry O’Brien is the Deputy Mayor after being proposed by Cllr Graham Spring (Lab) and seconded by Cllr Pat McCarthy.