In June 1962, a meeting of the UDC was held in order to elect the new Council Chairman. Pat Lavelle was proposed by the outgoing Chairman, JF Cahill and the outgoing V/Chairman D Ward proposed himself. After some heated exchanges between the two outgoing officers, the result was a draw: Lavelle: Cahill, Horkan & Lavelle Ward: Cresham, Killeen & Ward. Cllrs. Neary and Chambers abstained. A beret was produced and Pat Lavelle from Castle Street was duly declared Chairman. Sean Horkan was elected V/Chairman. The Connaught reported the following week that the first to get the news in the town about the elections was local merchant, John Bourke. The news arrived by special carrier pigeon that entered through a back window of his premises and made its way to the bar counter, carrying the message. It doesn’t say who actually sent the pigeon but it was certainly unique.