Life After Politics: "I had probably paused my life and put politics first"

Admitting that he had somewhat put his life on hold in pursuit of a political career, Ivan Connaughton has had a busy four years since resigning his seat on Roscommon County Council.

In those four years, he got engaged and married his wife Eimear and the couple now has a two-year-old son.

He also further expanded his auctioneering business - DNG Connaughton - and said he was fortunate to have his business to fall back on when he decided to leave politics.

Ivan also lost his father Martin, a former mayor and councillor in Roscommon, who passed away last year.

At just 16, he became his father's director of elections in 1999 and has been involved in the political scene since then, first being elected as a Fianna Fáil councillor in 2014, then as an Independent in 2019. He also contested the 2011 general election for Fianna Fáil and the 2014 by-election.

Speaking this week about deciding to contest a general election before ever being elected onto a council, the Athleague man said: "I saw an opportunity and contested the election, just finishing outside of the three seats, finishing fourth.

"Obviously then it was always a case that I'd be a candidate for a seat then in 2014 when my father retired from politics. I have been involved in political circles for 25 years, which is scary when you do the maths."

When he was elected as a councillor in 2014, the European elections were held at the same time and when this resulted in a vacancy in the constituency, Ivan contested the by-election for Fianna Fáil.

"Being a councillor for only a few months, it probably came a bit prematurely. I contested the by-election, and while heading the polls I got caught out on transfers, and finished just outside.

"I stayed in local politics then, and obviously wasn't satisfied by the way the by-election was run by Fianna Fáil headquarters, and subsequently didn't contested the general election for the party in 2016," he said.

"The head person in Fianna Fáil headquarters, and Micheál Martin, thought that the by-election was won from looking at polls, but I knew that there was a serious machine with Michael Fitzmaurice and his team that had come in, and they were gaining ground at all times," he said.

"And I asked for a number of assurances from Micheál Martin to ensure that Fianna Fáil, and me as the candidate, won the by-election, after spending a substantial amount of my own money on a campaign to try and be elected.

"And I was assured by Micheál Martin that I would be elected and that they didn't need any assurances. It was a very bad call on his behalf at that time.

"I was only an elected representative for three or four months, and, in hindsight looking back on it, I can see clearly all the mistakes that Fianna Fáil headquarters made."

Ivan said there was a senior member of the party in Roscommon actively asking for number one votes for another candidate, and that Micheál Martin was made aware of this and didn't take any action.

He added that there were times during the by-election where he was informed about Micheál Martin's presence at certain events by Shannonside, rather than being told by headquarters.

"All of those elements going on... that's grand, that's politics, I'm well aware that's how things happen but that shouldn't happen if a political party wants to win by-elections," he said.

"I was thrown under the bus at the time, and in hindsight was I lucky I didn't win the by-election? I think I was, because I would be going up into an environment that is still the same today as it was back then, you tow the line, otherwise you're ultimately told that another candidate will be preferred for the next election," he said.

As the 2019 local elections were approaching Ivan decided he wouldn't contest the election due to his dissatisfaction with Fianna Fáil.

However, after being approached by local people who wanted a candidate to represent the area, he agreed to run as an Independent candidate and was elected, before subsequently resigning in 2021 when he had become disillusioned with politics, and in particular with the Lough Funshinagh flooding issue.

"The final straw was Lough Funshinagh, and seeing that there were no powers for councillors. You had a local authority blaming the OPW for that matter, the OPW were saying it was the local authority, then you had a Minister intervening to get the matter dealt with.

"So, basically we were going around in circles with no one taking responsibility and us councillors on the ground on the firing line taking all the slack for matters that we had no say in," he said.

And while he experienced many frustrations during his seven years as a county councillor, Ivan said there were also many highlights.

Among them were his time as Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council, serving as chairperson of the Galway and Roscommon Education Training Board, and serving as chairperson of the Athlone Municipal District.

He added that for him politics was always about the people, and said: "If you get something done for a constituent, you weren't getting them anything they weren't entitled to, you were getting them something they were entitled to but they didn't know how to go about getting it.

"There's a great feel good factor when you see the happiness in their face when they get something that they're entitled to."

Ivan also had the opportunity to represent county Roscommon at the St Patrick's Day parade in New York, and formed part of a delegation that visited China, representing Roscommon relation to trade.

He said he can bring his experience in politics back to his own village as a volunteer, as it benefits the community group in knowing how to fill out application forms and what grant aid is available.

Ivan readily admits that life took a back seat to politics for a while, saying: "I was at a stage, really, where I'd probably paused my life and put politics first.

"Obviously, I was contesting a general election and a by-election, my thoughts were always set on getting to the top. Maybe I was a young man in a hurry too quick, but I suppose I was a young man involved in politics for so long, I probably thought I had a divine right to be elevated to that office so quick, whereas now looking back on it, the experience that you gain over a number of years is of major benefit if you were ever to elevate up to that role."

He said politics is a big undertaking for those who put their names forward, but he wouldn't entirely rule out a return to politics in the future.

"I never say never. I'm asked the question every week," he said, but said at the moment his priorities are his wife and two-year-old son, and his business, as well as the numerous community organisations he is involved with.

"I'm enjoying that you can finish here in your office at six o'clock in the evening and spend time with your family at the weekends," he said.

"There's no room for it (politics) at the moment, but I'd never say never, when you get older maybe, and as your family gets older you might look into it."