Coleman to replace Mulcahy on town council

NEW Senator Tony Mulcahy’s seat on Shannon Town Council will be filled by 35-year-old Vincent Coleman.
A lifelong resident of Shannon, he was educated at St Conaire’s and St Caimin’s, while he was worked at ServisAir in Shannon Airport for the last 11 years.
He is married with a five-month-old daughter and has been a member of the Fine Gael party for many years.
Speaking to The Clare Champion, he said he feels his function will be to represent the views and concerns of people in the town. “I want to give people a voice on any local issues that are raised and see what we can do from there,” he commented.
The promotion of Shannon Airport is something he also feels is crucial. “We (himself and his colleagues at ServisAir) went back on full-time last week. Since last October we were on short time and it was the second year in-a-row that happened. At the start of October they want to negotiate again for us to go back to short time.
“The airport is massive for me. My father works as a taxi driver there and I worked there when I was a youngster. The decline in the airport is massive and the winter schedule is horrendous.”
Mr Coleman said he thought about running for election previously.
“I’ve canvassed for the party for the last 10 years or so. I thought about it the last time out but I said I’d wait and see what happened. We had other good candidates so I said I’d wait until the next time out or see what happened. Then after Tony’s election, the party asked me would I go and I was delighted to accept the nomination.”
He said he is delighted with Senator Mulcahy’s elevation and that he is a family friend. “My family were in business with him years ago, before he had Mr Pickwick’s. I’ve canvassed a lot with him and he’s one of the reasons I got interested in politics. He has left big shoes to fill.”
Party colleague Councillor Michael Fleming feels Mr Coleman will be an addition to the body.
“I know him for a good while now. He would have canvassed with me on my own campaign and he’s a hard worker. It’s good to have young blood coming onto the council but he will have an awful lot to cover because Tony did so much work over the years.”