Fine Gael has lost control of Roscommon Co Council after two former Fine Gael councillors and two independent councillors, representing the Roscommon Hospital Action Committee, pulled out of a power-sharing agreement.
They were protesting over the closure of the Emergency Department in Roscommon.
Fianna Fáil's Eugene Murphy was subsequently elected Mayor of Roscommon - defeating Fine Gael's Ollie Moore.
Cllr Moore was the party's nominee to be elected council chairman three weeks ago, however, the AGM was postponed at the request of council members who were awaiting the decision of the Government on the hospital issue.
Cllr Murphy was elected by 12 votes to eight but among the six abstentions were Councillors Dominic Connolly and Laurence Fallon who recently resigned the Fine Gael party whip on the council along with the Roscommon Hospital Action Committee members Valerie Byrne and Paula McNamara.
The hospital committee councillors had supported Fine Gael for the appointment of mayor 12 months ago.
