Tag Archives: local election

THIRTY seven year old Keith McNamara from Cluain Airne is running in the upcoming local elections as an independent. “I’ve been thinking about it for a number of years. The town is being neglected in some ways,” he said. “There are lots of maintenance issues, its public spaces have been neglected, and I want to represent the voice of the people of Shannon. I feel like it has been underrepresented a little bit for the past couple of years. “I was never a member of a party. I like politics, I’ve been interested in it since I was in my teens. “I’ve also been involved in numerous community groups since I was a teenager. I like being involved with things that contribute to a better life for everyone, planning for the future and contributing to the town and its environs.” On his current community involvement, he said, “Currently I’m involved with Wolfe Tones, I’m a member of Limerick Lawn Tennis …

Ennistymon woman, Pam O’Loughlin, has been unveiled as the Farmers’ Alliance candidate to contest the upcoming local election in the Ennistymon area this summer. Pam, whose younger sister Emer was murdered in a caravan on the border between Clare and Galway in 2005, says that she doesn’t recognise the kind of country Ireland is starting to become. Ms O’Loughlin has been campaigning for justice for her younger sister for almost 20 years and says she is well able to fight her corner. “I left Ireland in the 1980s and, of course, Ireland has changed a huge amount since then. But since I came home three years ago the values and attitudes of people seem to be changing,” she said. “We have changed from a country that feels safe to a country that doesn’t feel safe anymore, and I mean physically as well as psychologically. ”I feel so strongly that Ireland is going in the wrong direction. I have seen politicians, …

A FORMER Direct Provision resident is once again throwing her hat in the ring for a chance to become a member of Clare County Council. Nigerian born Amanda Major has lived in Clare for 20 years and became an Irish citizen in 2015. She confirmed this week she will be running in this year’s Ennis Municipal District local elections as an Independent candidate. In 2019 she unsuccessfully campaigned for a seat on the council as an Independent gaining 200 first preference votes. And in 2022 she was among four local Fianna Fáil candidates vying for a seat on the local authority left vacant after former Ennis councillor Mark Nestor announced he was leaving politics to join the priesthood. Announcing her candidacy this week she said she made the decision “due to the urgent need for change and the crucial role that voting plays in shaping the future of our community.” She said, “In recent years, we have witnessed significant challenges …

Pat Hayes (FF) has been elected to Clare County Council netting 277 transfers from Joe Cooney’s (FG) surplus votes. The Maghera native was surrounded by his wife, children and extended family when the results were delivered by returning officer Michael McNamara. Delighted with the news that he will retain his council seat having netted a total of 1,767 votes, he said he looks forward to celebrating. He added that it was “disgraceful” that electoral area changes introduced for this election meant communities were effectively divided down the middle. He said during his new term he will be fighting to see the reversal of these boundary changes. Pat is now looking forward to representing the newly extended Killaloe Electoral Area, which encompasses a significant geographical area of North West Clare, but said he was hugely disappointed that those communities, such as Carron, were now split. Pat said he is now rooting for his Fianna Fáil colleagues Tony O’Brien, Alan O’Callaghan and …

By Owen Ryan MICHAEL Fleming, who served as Mayor of Shannon between the summers of 2012 and 2013 has announced he will be seeking election to Clare  County Council in next month’s local elections. Elected to the Town Council as a Fine Gael representative five years ago, he left the party subsequently. He will also be running as an independent in next month’s elections and he said that not being in a party will allow him to speak his mind to a greater extent. “As an independent I have more of an opportunity to voice my opinion. I worked hard for the people of the community and I intend to continue to be loyal to the people of the community.” When he spoke to The Clare Champion on Monday, he acknowledged that he has yet to start canvassing. “I haven’t really (started yet) because I only decided last Thursday that I decided I was going to run as an independent. …

THREE of Ennis’ longest-serving public representatives will not be contesting this May’s local elections. Councillors Tommy Brennan, Peter Considine and Mary Coote Ryan are retiring from politics. Independent Councillor Brennan, a member of Ennis Town Council for 35 years and Clare County Council for 29 years, said he made the decision to bow out as a result of changes to local government. “Our function as councillors has been taken away and it’s pointless. It has completely changed. It started in about 2001 with Better Local Government and then the recent changes by Minister Hogan. It leaves the council with no function whatsoever,” he stated. He said the decision not to stand was not made lightly, particularly given the high level of support from the public over the years. “The people of Ennis have given me great support over the last 30 years and I thank them for that. I look forward to retiring and, if I can be of any …