They say that ‘a week really is a long time in politics’—little could I have realised that within a week of making my last news summary for Nuacht Chláir that events at a national level relating to Robert Molloy could have overtaken us on a local level and resulted in my being nominated to contest his Progressive Democrats seat in Galway West with my two colleagues City councillors, Donal Lyons and Declan McDonnell.
The time between then and now has been taken up with meeting a lot of you in your homes in the electoral area and indeed, with a huge number of you contacting me in support of my efforts and offering to help out on canvass, with transport and in numerous other ways—to all of you I am very grateful and hope that I can repay the confidence you have placed in me. I’m sorry to say that while I can’t get to all of the parishioners, I’m sure you will give a warm welcome to my canvass team who are calling to all the houses and families in the parish.
It’s an uphill battle to get to meet everyone, to convince them of the value and need of a Progressive Democrats seat in Galway West and the need to continue and build on the very fine work done on our behalf by Robert Molloy over 37 years. To try and follow that lead is the greatest challenge that I have ever encountered and one which I will undertake certain in the knowledge of your support.
Looking back over my three years as your representative on Galway Council and the developments which we have succeeded in achieving for the Parish, Claregalway will be a more vibrant centre arising from the Galway County Council Area Office—which will open in the not too distant future—while the provision of a wide ranging service for everyone will not only bring more people into the village but also get rid of the need to travel into Galway city centre to conduct business.
With over €2.4 million spent on local roads, we have seen a major improvement in the overall travelling conditions as well as a significant improvement in the safety of our Parish roads. The most recent commitments to improving crossroads throughout the area is a huge step forward and I refer particularly to the planned improvement of the, up to now, highly dangerous Carnmore Cross. This cross will grow in importance over the coming years because of its closeness to the new proposed M6 at Glenascaul, the Airport and the new suburbs in the Ardaun corridor. Without doubt the single biggest achievement in this area of roads and has been the relocation of the N17 so that it will not divide the village—such a plan would have been the death knell for the village, Parish and all those who live and do business in the area. On a personal basis, I have been delighted with the success of the use of my Notice of Motion money for Public Lighting for various reasons not least of which is the opportunity it gives me to meet with communities dotted around the area as we examine the feasibility of having new lights installed in their areas.
In closing, I would like to thank you all for your support in the past and I can assure you of my continuing to work hard on your behalf as my track record with the Council has proved.
With the area now about to increase in population—minimum of 15,000 people over the next 10 years—it’s time that the eastern side of the constituency had a TD. I believe that my hard work on your behalf on the Council over the last three years has prepared me to be your voice in the Dáil.
For appointments or to contact Cllr. Noel Grealish.
MCC. Peace Commissioner.
Phone 091 794991 or 087 2648607
