Ballyforan's Emer aims to bring "new perspective" to councillor role

A 21-year-old occupational therapy student from Ballyforan is hoping to bring a fresh perspective to Roscommon County Council after she was chosen to become its newest member.

Emer Kelly was the successful candidate selected by the three-person committee which Cllr Ivan Connaughton set up to find his successor following his recent decision to quit politics.

Mr Connaughton formally resigned his seat at a plenary meeting of the council on Monday. At 38, the auctioneer from Athleague had been the youngest member of the council.

His replacement, who is seventeen years younger again, will be the fourth female councillor on the 18-seat local authority.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent last Friday, Ms Kelly said younger people were not being adequately represented in the political system.

"Young people are so under-represented in politics, both locally and nationally, and I think we need younger people there to bring a new perspective.

"If the same issues are cropping up, and the same people are looking at them all the time, it's no harm to bring in a fresh, young or new perspective. I've always lived locally, worked locally, so I am aware of what's going on around the area."

A daughter of Dermot and Ann Marie Kelly, Emer is from a farming background and is the eldest of seven.

She attended primary school in Ballyforan. Her secondary school, Coláiste Mhuire in Ballygar, publicly congratulated her on the council role, saying she was a person with "a warm and genuine personality" and was "definitely not afraid of hard work".

While living at home in Ballyforan, Emer is now in her third year of studying occupational therapy at NUI Galway and is currently on placement at Portiuncula Hospital.

Her interest in politics stemmed from her upbringing. Her father, Dermot, contested the 2009 local elections, receiving 555 first preferences but missing out on a seat in the Athlone electoral area.

"Politics was always a prominent topic in the house, so there was always an interest there," said Emer.

"I would have always thought about running for elections further down the line. I didn't expect it to happen so soon, but this came up and I decided to take the opportunity."

While her father ran as a Fine Gael candidate twelve years ago, Emer is coming into the council as an Independent and has no current plans to affiliate herself with a party.

"Obviously this is a seat that was Independent, and to be honest I don't think young people are as party-orientated now," she commented.

"Any time I went to vote in elections, I would have (supported) the candidate that I thought would do the most work, rather than a candidate as part of a party."

When discussing her priorities as a councillor, she said she would be hoping to address the lack of facilities available for younger people in Roscommon and had also been contacted by people who were having trouble getting planning permission.

"I know there is a (planning) process in place, and it's there for a reason, but I definitely think it would be something to look at to see if I can help out or improve the process there, because a lot of people from various different age groups are finding that difficult."

While remarking that she had no illusions about the challenges of the role, she was very much looking forward to getting started as a councillor.

"I don't have my head in the clouds - I know it's going to be difficult, and that there will be things I can't do that I would like to do.

"I'm not expecting to go in and completely change Roscommon, but I do hope to do the best that I can. I really can't wait to get started, bring in my new ideas, and hopefully get stuff done," she concluded.