Third independent elected cathaoirleach as councillors warn of under-investment in west Wicklow

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Independent councillor Jason Mulhall became the third to take a cathaoirleach role in Wicklow for the coming year, when being elected to his position at the annual meeting of Baltinglass Municipal District.

His election came against a backdrop of dissatisfaction among councillors about under-investment in their area, and this dominated much of the post-election discussion.

In accepting his role, Cllr Mulhall thanked his colleagues for their confidence and expressed deep appreciation to the people of the district.

He pledged to lead with “fairness, respect and dedication”, emphasising constructive cooperation among councillors, community groups and residents. He also acknowledged the support of his family, calling their encouragement essential to his work in public service.

He succeeds outgoing chair Avril Cronin, a Fine Gael councillor now elected as Wicklow County Council leas-cathaoirleach, with her party colleague Cllr Pat Mahon appointed leas‑cathaoirleach for Baltinglass.

An independent chair and Fine Gael deputy were also elected to Bray and Arklow councils this month, with Fine Gael councillors also taking the deputy roles in Wicklow and at the county council, which is chaired by the Social Democrats’s first county council cathaoirleach, Caroline Winstanley.

The Baltinglass meeting also marked a significant administrative change, with Sarah McCullagh appointed as the new district manager, succeeding Theresa O’Brien, who retired from the council at the end of last month after 40 years of service to the local authority across a range of departments.

Ms McCullagh will oversee day-to-day operations, budgets and delivery of the district’s annual work programme.

Left to right: Cllr Peter Stapleton, Cllr Patsy Glennon, district manager Sarah McCullagh, Cllr Jason Mulhall, Cllr Pat Mahon, Cllr Avril Cronin and district administrator Liam Cullen © Wicklow County Council

Celebrations were short-lived as attention turned to the schedule of municipal works, which revealed that Baltinglass MD has the highest expenditure of all five municipal districts in Wicklow.

Despite this, councillors voiced pointed and strong concerns that the district continues to lag in key areas.

Cllr Cronin highlighted the ongoing lack of facilities across the district, noting that no allocation has been made for parks.

She argued that Baltinglass MD needs larger budgets to maintain parks and open spaces, with Ms McCullagh pointing out that a business case has already been prepared.

Cllr Cronin compared the situation to other counties, saying that similar structures already exist in Kildare and Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, where dedicated funding streams support public amenities.

She also warned that the district is being “penalised” because it lacks the commercial infrastructure that generates high levels of rates income elsewhere.

“Kildare has huge income from rates,” she said. “Wicklow doesn’t.”

Cllr Patsy Glennon echoed these concerns, saying there is “a real feeling we are not cared about out in the west”. He warned that communities across west Wicklow fear they will “get nothing out here” unless funding structures change.

These concerns come on top of broader challenges already facing the district, including rural sustainability, housing shortages, limited public transport, and the need to balance development with environmental protection.

Climate resilience and flood management remain ongoing priorities, particularly in vulnerable areas of west Wicklow.

As Cllr Mulhall begins his term, he inherits a district with both significant pressures and strong expectations.