Roads top of agenda in the Ballyjamesduff electoral area

Competition is heating up in the Local Election race with polls set to open on June 7.

So far, eleven people have declared their intention to seek election to Cavan County Council to represent the Ballyjamesduff Municipal District. This week, in the first of our election specials, the Celt profiles the candidates in this area - one of three in the county along with Bailieborough-Cootehill (EA) and the Belturbet-Cavan (EA).

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Immigration and housing issues are still high on the political agenda but there's no doubt that the condition of roads and the need for more funding is the dominant issue in this electoral area.

Candidates in the Ballyjamesduff MD include: Cllr Winston Bennett (FG), Cllr Philip Brady (FF), Noel Connell (SF), Angela Gaffney (SF), Nathan Galligan (FF), Kieran Goggins (Irish Freedom Party), Lester Gordon (Ind), Grainne McPhillips (Aontú), Cllr Shane P. O’Reilly (Independent Ireland), Cllr T.P. O’Reilly (FG) and Cllr Trevor Smith (FG).

To view the individual candidate profiles, click on their names in blue above.

Sitting Fianna Fáil councillor, Craig Lovett, has indicated his intention not to seek re-election despite claiming a seat for the party his first time out in 2019. Cllr Shane P. O’Reilly parted ways with the party and is now a member of Independent Ireland.

Despite winning three seats in the MD last time out, Fianna Fáil has opted to run two candidates, perhaps reflecting the current political climate and the likelihood that Cllr S.P. O'Reilly will retain a chunk of that vote in east Cavan.

It's thought the cathaoirleach, Cllr Brady, is unlikely to lose his seat; while newcomer Nathan Galligan - who was selected following a party convention last month - will be relying on a rural GAA vote to clinch a second Fianna Fáil seat. Given the two candidates are close geographically, and with Aontu's Grainne McPhillips knocking on a lot of the same doors, Nathan Galligan will have a fight on his hands.

School principal Grainne McPhilips was unsuccessful in her bid for a seat last time round and now, with five more years of life experience and growth within her party, she is expected to put in a strong performance on election day.

Sinn Féin is running two candidates - Angela Gaffney from Mullagh who has thrown her hat in the local political arena for the first time and Noel Connell from Mountnugent who appears determined to take back the seat he lost in 2019.

There were just 182 votes separating Noel Connell and Philip Brady for the last seat in the fifth and final count on the last occasion. This, coupled with Sinn Féin's rise in opinion polls would suggest there is definitely at least one seat for the party in the MD.

Ms Gaffney says she is an “ordinary woman - a mother and a wife” who will connect with numerous voters in the electoral area.

Cllr Winston Bennett, Cllr T.P. O’Reilly and Cllr Trevor Smith are all seeking re-election on behalf of Fine Gael. Farmer Cllr Bennett is a seasoned local politician having served as a county councillor since 2004. Both Cllr O’Reilly and Cllr Smith were elected for the first time in 2019. Geographically, they are all well spread across the district - at Ballinagh, Virginia and Ballyjamesduff.

All three believe that their legacy in their local areas is testament to their hard work and dedication to the communities in which they live, and are confident that voters will see that. That said, it will be difficult for all three to make it home given an element of anti-government sentiment and some strong challenging candidates in the mix. They will very much be relying on the party faithful and a personal vote.

Regardless of what side of the political divide the electorate is on, the importance of coming out and exercising the right to vote on June 7 cannot be overstated. Local Government is where democracy, rights, freedoms and services all begin. Without it there would be nobody to connect with TDs and Senators in Dáil Eireann, nobody to fight rural Ireland’s corner, and nobody to care.

So get voting because every vote counts!