THE new Mayor of Tralee is calling for Tralee to be given city status and also wants free parking for half days during the week in the town centre.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Tom McEllistrim was speaking after he was elected Mayor at a meeting of the Tralee Municipal District of Kerry County Council on Monday morning.

“As Mayor I’m calling for Tralee to be designated and given city status,” said Mayor McEllistrim, addressing the Council.

“Regarding our town of Tralee, I’ve noted a recent Government initiative called the ‘Living City Initiative’. It’s a scheme designed to get our cities back on their feet following the recession and to attract business back into the city centres. Some of the cities involved in the scheme have similar populations to Tralee, for example Kilkenny city,” said the Fianna Fáil councillor.

Continued below…

“I believe that the scheme would be well-suited to towns like Tralee and regenerating our town is vital. We should seek to have this scheme extended to Tralee,” he said.

Mayor McEllistrim also proposed a free parking initiative.

“I believe that free parking should be introduced, even if it’s on a trial basis, for half days during the week to encourage business back into the town centre,” he said

Mayor McEllistrim was proposed for the position of Mayor by FF Cllr Norma Foley and seconded by Labour Cllr Graham Spring. Sinn Fein Cllr Pa Daly proposed Cllr Sam Locke. In a vote, Mayor McEllistrim won by six  votes to two (Toireasa Ferris was absent).

Cllr Graham Spring is the new Deputy Mayor.

Continued below…

Mayor McEllistrim received his chain of office from outgoing Mayor, Jim Finucane. Many tributes were paid to Cllr Finucane by his colleagues and staff of Kerry County Council and all agreed he represented the town with distinction over the past year.

In his address as new Mayor, Cllr McEllistrim identified the key issues facing the town.

“Jobs are the key thing. We must do our part in maximising our case for IDA visits and to continue to invest in our fair share with regard to attracting investment and companies to Tralee. We must promote Kerry Technology Park in co-operation with the IDA,” he said.

“The Denny site holds huge potential and we must grasp the opportunities that this holds to increase employment and business to Tralee town centre which is badly needed,” he added.

“2016 is the centenary of the 1916 Rising. It’s an opportunity not only to look back and commemorate the sacrifices made by the brave men and women of the Rising but also to reinvigorate the aspirations of the Proclamation of Independence,” he said.