Longford Fianna Fáil up ante in local election race

Fianna Fáil are gearing up for next year’s local elections by adding a series of fresh faces to the party’s campaign team.

As revealed by the Leader’s website, longfordleader.ie last Thursday, Longford businessman and former U21 county GAA star David Cassidy was put forward to run as a possible candidate to run in the Granard Municipal District.

The 37-year-old, who is the son of the late country and western singer Noel Cassidy, is also a former Fr Manning Gael’s and Longford U21 player.

Speaking from his Camlin Barber Shop premises in Longford last week, Mr Cassidy confirmed he was aware of his nomination ahead of a party selection convention over the coming weeks.

“I will discuss it with my wife and see how things go from there,” he said. “There is a big push within the Fianna Fáil section in north Longford for me to run.

“It’s definitely something to think about but it is something I will discuss with my wife and family first.”

Longford professor receives prestigious Fulbright Scholarship

He looks set to be joined by Longford CDC chairperson Susan Murphy who has also been nominated to run in the Granard Municipal District alongside sitting Cllr PJ Reilly.

There is expected to be no new additions to the Longford Municipal District area with Councillors Seamus Butler, Martin Monaghan and Ureumu Adejinmi all vying to be returned for another five years next June.

In Ballymahon, Councillors Pat O’Toole and Mick Cahill are likely to be joined by a third running mate in the shape of secondary school teacher Niall Dowler.

On foot of nominations tabled by “several people” in Kenagh, Moydow, Abbeyshrule, Legan, Carrickboy and Ballymahon, Mr Dowler said he was of the firm belief a “more balanced level of representation” was needed within the county council chamber to meet the needs and expectations of the wider public.

Green light for Catherine Joseph's Longford local election ambitions

“It's not an easy game to get into but I do think there is an appetite there to elect a cohort of people that will bring about more balance to the council chamber and try to accelerate more proactive activity for our local communities,” he said.

“Ballymahon town and its environs is a heavily populated district and needs adequate representation to meet the needs of the community.

“Politics has changed dramatically in recent years in terms of being personally accessible to the electorate in order to meet their enquiries and needs."

He added his own attempts to aid locals with various issues had been made more difficult by not being an elected member and of having no mandate to serve the community, an obstacle he hopes to change in 12 months time.