However the process was branded as a charade with almost half the local representatives hitting out at the pact system that saw Councillor Darcy voted in.
Even before outgoing Cathaoirleach – Labours Fiona Bonfield – had finished her departing words to her fellow councillors at today's AGM it was clear there was disquiet with the voting process
Councillor Seamus Morris called for what he described as the dinosaur pact system between Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour to be scrapped in favour of dHondt where by the chair would go to the councillors who polled the highest in the local elections over the five year span of the council.
He was backed up in this by Councillor Joe Hannigan but they were informed by the meeting administrator Rosemary Joyce that the 1st issue on the agenda was the election of the Cathaoirleach and leas Cathaoirleach.
Councillor Darcy was then proposed and seconded by fellow Fine Gael representative Phil bugler and Fianna Fail’s John Carroll.
Councillor Joe Hannigan was proposed by Sinn Fein’s Seamus Morris and Independent representative Michael O’Meara who described the current set up as a charade.
However they didn't have the numbers necessary and Councillor Darcy was elected by 5 votes to 4.
Councillor Morris had claimed that the pact system effectively excludes the 6,000 plus votes of four Nenagh Councillors but the new Cathaoirleach disagreed.
So for a second term in a row Councillor Hannigan lost out in the vote for the chair however in what could be seen as a consolation prize the Lorrha man was voted in as leas Cathaoirleach
Meanwhile after handing over the chains of office to her successor outgoing Chair Fiona Bonfield described it as a productive year.
