The CEO of Clare County Council has confirmed he will be stepping down from his position at the end of the year.
Pat Dowling assumed the office of Chief Executive in September of 2016 after being appointed for a seven year term.
The Limerick native, now living in Kilkee oversaw a number of significant developments, including the council’s acquisition of the Shannon Heritage sites, the delivery of over 2,000 social homes, including 330 direct builds, the incorporation of the Ennis 2040 DAC, the redevelopment of the Inis Cealtra visitor site and winning local authority of the year on two occasions.
An interim Chief Executive will now be appointed from within the Senior Management of the local authority and will take up their position from December, after this there will be a recruitment competition for the role on a full time basis.
Dowling received glowing tributes from Councillors after the announcement was made during today’s November meeting of elected representatives and particularly garnered praise for being open to new ideas and being accessible to members, while also exceeding job creation targets and managing the emergency response to both Covid and the Ukrainian crisis.
Clonlara Independent Councillor Michael Begley who was first elected for Fianna Fáil in 1991 and went on to serve under four county managers paid tribute to Dowling as “The best of them all”.
