Brady takes chair of CMETB

In a repeat of two years ago, Fine Gael’s Carmel Brady has been appointed chair of the Cavan-Monaghan Education and Training Board (ETB).

She replaces party colleague David Maxwell who won a seat in Dáil Eireann in the recent General Election.

The position was filled during the ETB meeting held at Cavan Institute last week, with Cllr Winston Bennett (FG) proposing Cllr Brady, and Fianna Fáil’s Clifford Kelly seconding the choice.

Deputy Maxwell only took the chair of the local ETB last September, succeeding former board member Cllr PJ O’Hanlon (FF) in the post.

Cllr Brady, meanwhile, last served as head of the Cavan Monaghan ETB in 2022.

Like Deputy Maxwell, she stood as a candidate in the recent General Election, exiting the race following the seventh count.

Beside ETB Chief Executive Dr Fiona McGrath and the rest of the executive, Cllr Brady will be joined by Monaghan businesswoman Aprilanna Barker, who will served deputy chairperson following her appointment at the November meeting.

General Manager in her husband’s family business, Dinkin’s Bakery and Café in Church Square in Monaghan Town, Ms Barker, has a degree in Business and Economics from Trinity College Dublin. She is also involved with other local committees such as the Monaghan Street Food Festival and Monaghan Town Team.

She is a member of the board of management at Beech Hill School and also Monaghan Institute.

Vacancies deferred

Vacancies on various committees attached to CMETB brought about by former Fine Gael Cllr Maxwell’s move to Leinster House have been deferred.

His party colleague Cllr Aiden Campbell requested the ETB grant extra time to fill the empty spots.

Monaghan Town native Alan Johnston was co-opted to Monaghan County Council in place of Deputy Maxwell who held the position before him for nearly 21 years.

The most pressing of those ETB vacancies is a seat on the Finance Committee, the Further Education and Training Committee, and also the Board of Monaghan Institute.