New Athlone Mayor says more women should be asked to run in local elections

Green Party councillor Louise Heavin was elected as the new Mayor of the Athlone Moate Municipal District at its AGM in the town's civic centre on Monday last.

Cllr Heavin is the only female among the nine elected members of the district, and the need for more women in politics was one of the topics she spoke about after receiving the Mayoral chain.

"It's not easy being a minority here in terms of my gender and, sometimes, my political viewpoint, but having different perspectives is important in politics," she said.

"We discuss different views and come to an agreement, and I appreciate the respect and courtesy I've been shown in that regard.

"We do need a more balanced table, though. We are coming into an election year, and it's time for us all to reach out into community groups and say to other strong community leaders, 'Would you consider running for local election?'

"Bear in mind that women have to be asked to run, sometimes multiple times. I was asked three times before I said yes, and now I'm privileged to be sitting here as Mayor."

The architect and mother-of-two expressed her gratitude to her Mum, Rosaleen Heavin, her husband, Edward Schofield, and her campaign manager Méabh Cody, as well as her siblings and friends.

She added that when she first put herself forward as Green Party candidate, she "couldn't have imagined" that she would be serving as Mayor of the district some five years later.

Looking ahead to the coming year, she said the preparation of the district's Athlone Urban Area Plan was "a big piece of work" which would "shape the direction and the development" of the town.

She said that, as cycling infrastructure improves, she would like to see more people "taking to the rothar".

Other initiatives she hoped to help advance over the coming year included local streetscape and regeneration projects, and the development of more "town centre adjacent housing" in response to the housing crisis.

Each of the other councillors expressed their congratulations and best wishes to Cllr Heavin on her election as Mayor for the coming year. Cllr John Dolan said it was "a great day" for her and her family.

"We won't be agreeing on everything, as you said yourself, but that's democracy. I wish you the best of luck, genuinely, Louise," said Cllr Dolan.

In his remarks, Cllr Frankie Keena referred to Cllr Heavin's late father, businessman Michael Heavin, who died in 2018. "I'm sure your Dad is looking down on you and is very proud of you as well," he said.

Independent councillor Paul Hogan was elected unopposed as the Deputy Mayor of the district. His election was proposed by Cllr Keena and seconded by Cllr Vinny McCormack.