Kelly confirms her candidacy for local elections

Independent councillor Emer Kelly has confirmed her candidacy for the upcoming local elections on June 7th.

Co-opted to the council in place of Ivan Connaughton in May 2021, she became one of the youngest councillors in the country at just 21 years of age. She is also the only female representative in South Roscommon. She is currently serving as the Cathaoirleach of the Athlone Municipal District and will contest the local elections for the Athlone Electoral Area of Roscommon.

“I am thrilled to confirm that I will contest the upcoming local elections. Having served as a councillor for almost three years and having a background of community involvement, I have witnessed both the strengths and challenges presented in South Roscommon,” said Cllr Kelly this week.

“I will continue to work for South Roscommon, ensuring we are not forgotten. I am committed to listening to the concerns of the people I represent, and will work to ensure South Roscommon is a better place to work and live”.

From a farming background and living in Ballyforan, she works as an occupational therapist at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe. She had a record of community work long before her entrance into politics, with involvement in Ballyforan Fair, Tidy Towns and other community projects. “I know what it is like to live and work in rural Ireland. I grew up farming and I have worked in both the public and private sectors. Ordinary, working people are hit again and again and there is a growing frustration among people. We are the ones who are unable to afford to buy a house, we are unable to get planning permission and soon we will be forced to move into towns with the direction national policies appear to be taking. We need a strong voice,” she said.

Cllr Kelly has a strong view on the need for investment and realism in relation to rural Ireland. “Rural Ireland is slowly being forced to non-existence. Bus services are being cut, funding is shifting towards towns and centre first policies, planning regulations are making it impossible for people to build on their own land, farmers are being shown no support at all and young people are being driven out of the country. We had to fight to ensure children were granted school bus tickets in Ballyforan and Dysart and fight to keep our county town post office open. Our current system is not working. We need to see a change in our representatives or rural Ireland will continue to disintegrate.” 

Since her co-option, she has shown an interest in encouraging greater female representation in politics through her work with See Her Elected and the Regional Women’s Caucus.  “I believe that we need to see more diversity at a local level, young, old, male, female, etc. We need more young people in politics. I think people are beginning to appreciate the value a fresh perspective will bring to our local government. If our council is made up of the same type of candidate, we will never see any change.” Having already commenced progression on a number of local issues, she said she remains dedicated to tackling the pressing issues facing South Roscommon, with a strong focus on housing, healthcare, agriculture and environmental issues, roads and social concerns. 

“I am determined to see an increase in funding for housing adaptation grants and a reduction in the strict planning guidelines. I will advocate for increased payments for carers and improved home help services in our county. Healthcare is a huge issue locally. We need a rehabilitation service at Roscommon Hospital and we need an urgent reduction in the waiting lists for occupational therapy and speech and language therapy services in the community. Looking locally, we need an urgent solution to the crisis at Lough Funshinagh. It is disgraceful that people are waking up each morning not knowing if today is the day they will be forced to leave their home. Our government needs to take action.” 

“We have much potential in terms of community development, tourism and economic growth, but we need local and national policies to allow for young people to live and work in South Roscommon. We need change,” she concluded.