There was a special occasion in Laois County Council last week after the most recent monthly meeting when Cllr Seamus McDonald was recognised for his 40 years of service as an elected representative.
The Rosenallis man was elected for Fianna Fáil for the first time in 1985 and subsequently re-elected at each of the next seven elections – in 1991, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024.
There were warm words of praise to him from his council colleagues of all political persuasion as well as from Council CEO Michael Rainey.
Presentations were also made from the various groupings.
Among those in attendance as well as a selection of friends, neighbours, political supporters and family members were former Fianna Fáil TDs Liam Hyland and Michael Moloney as well as sitting Laois Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming.
As well as refreshments afterwards in the council, another celebration took place in the famed Moloney’s Gaelic Bar in Mountmellick that evening.
You can check out a selection of images from the event in the council below, as captured by photographer Michael Scully.
