Horse trainer to run in local elections

Mayo native Tom Cleary, who has been living in Carrickobrien, Athlone, for the past 50 years, has announced that he will run as an Independent candidate in the upcoming local elections.

Mr Cleary said that he had been thinking about running in the local elections for “quite a long time,” since before the two previous elections took place.

He said that he has been doing quite a lot of work in his own area. Mr Cleary has been to the forefront of the issue of flooding in Carrickobrien and been liaising with Westmeath County Council to facilitate work by the Office of Public Works (OPW) on the Athlone flood defence scheme at the River Al.

The local resident said that he gets on well with the council staff such as the engineers and Directors of Services. “When I see something that needs doing, I just go about getting it done.”

Mr Cleary added that people go to him to get things done and that he feels that it would be better if he was elected and could discuss issues in the area with other councillors. “By being in the council, I feel I could do a lot.”

The Independent candidate plans to focus on needs in the local areas such as flooding. “Anything that can be done to relieve flooding, I'd be on for that,” stated Mr Cleary.

He would also like to try and get costs associated with planning permission reduced. “It can be so hard for young couples to get planning permission.” Mr Cleary added that young couples have enough expense without these high costs.

Mr Cleary is heavily involved in the racing community as a racehorse trainer along with organisations such as the South Westmeath Hunt Point to Point, the Athlone Show Society, Shannon System Flood Alliance and Showjumping Ireland.

He is also the Chairman of the local resident's association in Carrickobrien.

The horse trainer concluded that his “door is always open” to help the public on any local issues they have now or into the future.

“My phone number will always be there to be contacted if there's something they feel they need help with getting done.”