Roscommon councillor John Cummins calls time on his political career
Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin, Eugene Murphy and Cllr John Cummins with Richard Kennedy at Kelly's Londis in Boyle during a visit to the town.
There is a sense of nostalgia as John Cummins recalls the last 25 years as a Roscommon County Councillor.
The Boyle man has decided not to seek re-election this term, saying it is time for someone else to come in with “new ideas and new energy,” as he calls time on his political career.
Having been elected to the council in 2019, he has won his seat on the first count and topped the poll on four out of five occasions since then.
The Fianna Fail councillor was no stranger to politics when first elected as back in 1973 he got his first introduction by putting up posters for the general election. “That’s 51 years ago and I have been involved in every campaign directly or indirectly since,” he told the Roscommon Herald.
In 1999 he chose to seek election and admits it wasn’t easy. He said: “I’m not a great person for publicity, but I’m always there for the people when they need me, So looking back on 25 years I was elected on the first count and that was a big endorsement on what I was doing on behalf of the people, and I’d like to acknowledge that and thank them.” One of his main issues over the years was in the area of housing especially rural housing and ensuring that people are allowed to continue to live in the countryside. He has also been a strong advocate for road improvements.
He said looking after the needs of the elderly and ensuring that they have grants to improve their accommodation was also something which he kept to the fore.
One of his biggest regrets in not succeeding in securing a hotel for Boyle town. “We tried it in numerous ways and it just didn't work out with objections and people. It's just a pity because we have Lough Key Forest Park on our doorstep, which is a huge asset to the town. We need accommodation to build on that. Forest Park is a big tourist attraction and when you have a tourist attraction of that magnitude, you need accommodation to retain people in the area on an ongoing basis.” He added there needed to be balance between development and environment issues.
He also said that during the last two decades and a half “I kept myself firmly on the ground with the people. I was there on a daily basis at the end of the phone, in the house, or at a meeting. I believe in rural people, in rural Ireland. And I reckon that the best way I could help them out over the years was to be among them, helping them, and to use the slogan, working for them and with them.” John who will be 65 next month says there are now other things he would like to do. “I will let the dust settle for a while,” but, he added that now was the time to bow out and let others with new ideas and new energy onto the council.
He believes that the entire world of politics has changed since he started out. Communications have advanced drastically, some for good and some “not so good”. When he started there were no mobile phones or email. He said that social media was having an effect on people deciding to go forward as public representation as it “can cast fear in their minds.” Asked if he has advice for the new in-coming councillors he stated: “Basically, you're elected by the people so don't forget the people - that's number one. And also the staff in the council - I found them to be excellent over the years, always there at the end of the phone or across the counter and they're always there to help.” Summing up his five terms as a councillor he added,:“ I was always involved in politics so I had a fair idea what it was going to entail before I went in there. But I enjoyed it and I enjoyed the interaction with people on a regular basis. And that’s probably the one main aspect of it that I will miss - the interaction with people on a daily basis.” But, John who is married to Patricia and has two daughter Sinead and Aine, is looking forward to spending time with his family and especially his four grandchildren. He is going to take time to relax but there is no doubt that he will continue to play a huge role in the Boyle community and continue to look out for the future of the town.
