Cllr Peadar O'Kelly

Welcome from Cllr Peadar O'Kelly

As a founding member of residents associations I have been active in tackling a number of issues: campaigning against the cutbacks in education, lobbying for sporting and play facilities, seeking improved street lighting and paving in residential areas and improvements in Council complexes. A keen local historian, I have campaigned to preserve Balbriggan’s rich architectural heritage.

I joined the Labour Party because having worked with people on the margins, in education and socially, I believe that our wealth and State services should be available to all sections of the community. I feel one of the ways to achieve this is by going forward for election to Balbriggan Town Council. As rich, productive farmland areas were rezoned for building and for a dump, thousands of houses were built but no facilities. I know that our community needs to tackle these issues to make our part of north county Dublin a better place, as we are living in one of the fastest-growing areas of the county. It is very frustrating to read reports from engineers, builders and officials and, to hear questions and motions being tabled at council meetings and often to sit in frustration in the visitor’s gallery of the Dail when the right questions were not put, or wrong answers went unchallenged. Fighting those battles on the outside is fighting them at second-hand. That’s why I intend to contest the local elections. I want to bring my energy, experience and passion to help directly shape the plans for the local community and ensure that communities come first. I know that it is an honour to represent the residents in the Balbriggan area and I am determined to get the absolute most for people in the area.