Kells Area
The Kells Electoral Area has 39 electoral divisions; An Ráth Mhór, Ardagh, Baile Átha
Buí, Ballinlough, Balrathboyne, Boherboy, Burry, Carrickleck, Castlekeeran,
Ceannanus Mor (Kells) Rural, Cill Bhríde, Crossakeel, Crosskeys, Cruicetown,
Drumcondra, Girley, Grennanstown, Kilbride, Killallon, Killeagh, Kilmainham,
Kilskeer, Knocklough, Loughan, Maperath, Martry, Moybolgue, Moylagh, Moynalty,
Newcastle, Newtown, Nobber, Oldcastle, Posseckstown, Rathmore, Staholmog,
Stonefield, Tailtin, Trohanny. The area has a population of 26,552 (2006 census) and elects 5 members to the Meath County Council.
Separately, Kells Town also elects 9 members to the Kells Town Council.
Candidates
Michael Gallagher
Councillor Michael Gallagher lives in Drumconrath with wife Sheila and children Emma & Micheál. Michael is Chairperson of Drumconrath Football Club and his son Micheál Ó Gallachoir is the Irish Officer with the Meath County Board. He has a great interest in traditional music and is a member of the Kilmainham Wood Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann.
Michael has been a member of Meath County Council since 2004, when he topped the poll in the Kells county area. He has a reputation as a hard working councillor, covering logistically a very large area from Oldcastle, Athboy, Kells to Drumconrath and all the rural areas in between. As part of his council work he holds positions on several committees including; Director of the Solstice Art Centre; the East Border Region committee; the Northeast Infrastructure Committee; andDirector of the Meath Energy Company. Michael is also Sinn Féin spokesperson for Agriculture and ‘Bury the Pylons’ campaign.
When re-elected, Michael will continue to work for improved tourism facilities for Meath, to promote local job creation and ensure community input into the Joint Policing Committee to provide positive solutions to criminal and ant-social behaviour.
Contact Michael at: 087 9478222
Cllr. Conor Ferguson
Conor is married with 5 children, 4 boys and 1 girl. He is a self-employed construction worker, an industry which he has worked in for more than 25 years.
Conor was first elected to Kells Town Council in 2004 when he topped the poll.
He is a:
- Member of Gael Cholmcille GAA in Kells, where he coaches adult and underage teams.
- Member Meath Tourism Board.
- Member of Meath Back on Track – a campaigning group to bring rail access back into area.
- Member Meath Enterprise Board.
During his first term in the council Conor has been involved in campaigns of anti-toll, anti-pylon, and bringing more club sport facilities to the town, helping all clubs.
If elected in 2009 Conor's main priorities will be completion of Moynalty Road sports complex for playing facilities, developing Kells tourist potential, cleaner and safer environment in rivers, roads, and leisure, as well as improvements on infrastructure, maintenance of roads on all arterial routes leading into the town.
Contact Conor at: 087 2211103
Philip Heary
Philip Heary could be described as Mr Kells. Aged 42, Philip was born and reared in Kells and is involved in most of what is going on in the town. His partner Elizabeth, works in Our Lady's Hospital Navan.
Philip is a successful businessman, running an agri-business since 1985 and a scaffolding firm since 1997 and employed ten to thirty people, but as a result of the recession, he can only offer seasonal work. He was educated in St Colmcilles and Kells CBS before studying multi-farming at the Franciscan Agricultural College.
He is a committed community activist and enjoys building up the towns sense of community spirit. He is a member of Kells musical and dramatic society, Kells Christmas Lights Committee, the St Patrick's Day Parade Committee, Kells Chamber of Commerce, Kells Summer Festival and is PRO of the Girley Harvest Festival.
Philip is interested in anything to do with Kells, past or present and is an enthusiast of the towns cultural past and heritage as well as the areas tourism. He is a collector of vintage agricultural machinery
Speaking at his selection at the Headford Arms Hotel, Philip said "If given the honour of representing Sinn Féin in Kells my objectives are to develop the towns small business life and the tourism of the town as well as to re kindle and rebuild the towns community spirit and sense of neighbourliness.
Philip comes from the McGovern family, which has one of the oldest linages in the town and come from a strong republican tradition. His grandfather James Heary fought in the Tan War and was shot several times in action. His mother, Katie Mc Govern comes from the Fair Green area of the town and her family is widely known and respected.
Contact Philip at: 086 3866836
