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26th June 2012 • Volume 19, Issue 21 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • ISDN 8139966 • Tel: 8•400•200
People Power Wins Out! Kennedy Sniffs Opportunity The decision of the Constituency Commission to reunite Swords, Rolestown, St Margaret’s and Portmarnock back to their former base has been widely welcomed and is set to change the political landscape in the North County. It is also a clear indication of the influential effect that people power has on decisions at both national and local level. The new constituency will be a five seater and will be named Dublin Fingal. Of course the name Dublin Fingal is not new. It was first proposed by the late John Boland, the former local Fine Gael TD and Minister in 1980. The changes have really energised local politicians and none more so than former Fianna Fail TD and one time poll topper, Michael Kennedy. He, along with Cllr Darragh Butler (FF) have been a very visible force in fighting for the reunification of the constituency. An upbeat Kennedy now sees a return to Dail Eireann as a distinct possibility. He told the County Leader, “I was out and
By Patrick Finnegan about in Swords last Thursday and I was heartened by the number of people who stopped me and said they were looking forward to seeing me back as a Dail deputy. I’m really looking forward to seeking the votes of the residents of Dublin Fingal at the next general election. I was very honoured to be a TD in the last Dail and I am excited by the prospect of representing the constituency in the next Dail. In welcoming the change, he said he felt very strongly about the removal of areas like River Valley in particular, where he always polled well, also Knocksedan, Rolestown and his home town of Portmarnock, as instrumental in the loss of his Dail seat at the last general election. Of the 533 submissions received by the Commission, the largest number received on any one issue related to Swords. In all of these submissions, it was suggested
that Swords and its environs should be in one constituency. Cllr Darragh Butler told the County Leader, “I am delighted that common sense has prevailed and that the ludicrous decision made by the previous Constituency Commission to split Swords has been reversed. I would also like to thank Sandra White who took our petition door to door along the Brackenstown Road and Park Avenue - they could not vote in the school directly across the road from them and instead had to get in their cars and drive to River Valley. Portmarnock based Labour councillor, Peter Coyle also welcomed the return of Portmarnock to the fold and said, “Portmarnock was lost in Dublin North East. I’m considering my future and will review my situation. I like local politics and am happy at local level,” he said. His party colleague, Deputy Brendan Ryan (LAB), has wholeheartedly welcomed the reunification of Swords within a new ‘Dublin Fingal’ constituency. The new Dublin
Councillor Darragh Butler and Michael Kennedy are very pleased about the Constituency Commission's changes.
Fingal constituency certainly makes more sense than the ludicrous change by the previous Constituency Commission.” Alan Farrell (FG) said, “I am pleased that the Commission has taken account the submissions of hundreds of residents, whose wishes were to have the constituency reunited.” Fianna Fáil Senator, Darragh O’Brien said, “I very much welcome the Report. I welcome the fact that Portmarnock, Balgriffin and neighbouring areas will also be returned to Dublin North. I would like to
commend the hundreds of people, in particular those in the Swords area, who made submissions to the Commission to reunite Swords and to seek for Portmarnock and surrounding areas to be returned to the one constituency.” The next general election is one that is certain to breathe oxygen into the campaigns of prospective candidates and it looks odds on that the changes will generate a freshness and excitement among our new electorate, with an uncertain outcome at the end of it.
Recognition For Former Cathaoirligh Well Received A presentation of medals of recognition for Cathaoirligh and County Mayors took place in County Hall, Swords on Friday last. This novel idea was the brainchild of County Mayor, Cllr Gerry McGuire, who wanted to recognise the contribution of these people. He made the presentations, in what was his last official duty as Mayor. He told the County Leader, “Having served as Mayor for the past year, I have come to know the sacrifices that are involved. The role of a councillor is very demanding and that of a mayor, so much more. It involves giving up weekends, hobbies, family and in many cases, having an understanding wife. The presentation of medals is a practice in other local authority areas and I thought it would be an appropriate thing to remember people who played such an important role in fashioning our community,” he said.
McGuire praised the recipients as wonderful ambassadors for the county, who sometimes assume the role of diplomats when greeting foreign dignitaries to the area. Between them, they have in excess of 300 years of service,” he said. The medals are round silver ones and have the Fingal crest with the names and years of office on them. The event was very well attended and was greeted with universal praise by all concerned. Ciaran Byrne told the County Leader, “Being Mayor is a great honour and often times is the pinnacle of a person’s career in politics. It’s fitting that it should be commemorated in such a way,” he said. The first Cathaoirleach was Sean Ryan in 1994 who spoke about the” rigours of having to travel to O’Connell Street to conduct the business of the region.” He praised subsequent Cathaoirligh and Mayors for their
great and selfless work. Cathal Boland and Joan Maher are the only members to hold the office of Cathaoirleach on two separate occasions. The role of County Mayor was established in 2006-2007 and the first person to hold this office was Joe Corr. All in all, this initiative was very well received and gave the holders of these offices an opportunity to meet each other and to have a social evening where, no doubt, many old stories and events were resurrected and old political rivalries were sidelined, as pleasant memories were revived. Pictured at the presentation of commemorative medals to former Cathaoirligh and County Mayors at County Hall, Swords last Friday are, Ned Ryan, Alan Farrell, Sean Ryan, County Mayor Gerry McGuire, Susie Manson (who represented her late grandfather, Cyril Gallagher), Ciaran Byrne, Joan Maher, Peter Coyle, Joe Corr, Michael Kennedy, Cathal Boland and Tom Kelleher.
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