"If I had been down another two places, it would’ve been a big struggle"; Councillor John Joe Fennelly

Councillor John Joe Fennelly was one of seven councillors elected to Laois County Council for the Portlaoise Municipal District this month.

We spoke to the councillor on the success of his campaign, and the issues he intends to tackle on the Council.

“It’s great to be re-elected, this is my sixth term now on Laois County Council,” said Councillor Fennelly.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald with fellow district Fianna Fáil Cllr John Joe Fennelly, both retaining their seats in the Portlaoise district. Photo: Alf Harvey.

“Some people have said that we might need younger people on the Council, but I have spent over 25 years working on the Council and I never had any fear that I wouldn’t be re-elected. But it’s the same for anyone who has their name on the ballot paper- it’s up to the people to decide whether they want you or not.”

It took more time in this election for Cllr Fennelly to get across the line and take his seat. The Councillor attributes this to the amount of candidates running in the area.

“It took me a long time to get across the line, I had three local candidates running with three of us born and reared on the one road! But thank God the majority of those votes I would’ve lost in the first count came back to me”.

Councillor Fennelly praised his fellow candidates for their hard work and perseverance.

“We had a very good candidate in Ballinakill, and a very good candidate in Ballyroan, Barry Walsh who was also elected,” he said. 

“So when you have six rural candidates looking to secure one or two seats, out of around 4,000 votes cast in the rural Portlaoise area, I think it’s a great achievement to have come through.”

“I kept saying this on the doorsteps while I was out canvassing- particularly in my hometown of Abbeyleix- I told them that I’d need to be in the top 3 or 4 to guarantee a seat, and my words seemed to come true. If I had been down another 2 places, it would’ve been a big struggle. 

I got fantastic support from my hometown, and I got great support from Raheen, Ballyroan, Ballinkill and Spink, and these were the areas I focused on when canvassing.”

Councillor Fennelly began canvassing in early February, and based his council priorities upon what he heard on doorsteps.

“Throughout my campaign I tried to meet people 1 to 1 and listen to their concerns,” he said.

“I came across some very tough situations that families were in, and naturally it would make you question whether you were doing enough. For the national issues I came back and told our local TD here and our party in general- issues faced by people with disabilities, or school places. Practically every house in the rural areas had mentioned the same issue- road safety. That came out very, very strong. “

“I canvassed these areas 6 days a week from February, from morning ‘til dark. I had a fantastic team around me and a great cumann in Abbeyleix, and it made such a difference,” said the Councillor.

Councillor John Joe Fennelly.

Councillor Fennelly told us that road safety is now one of his top priorities as he enters his new term on the Council. 

“Another top priority of mine is addressing the amount of heavy goods vehicles that are leaving the motorway. I don’t mean locals, they have to do their business- but we have a certain amount of lorries and heavy goods vehicles coming off the motorways to avoid tolls. 

They’re not just coming through Abbeyleix, they’re coming through Ballacolla and going out by Ballyroan. We have to try and tackle this issue.”

The councillor intends to promote new safe cycle paths for children, and the creation of sports facilities in his constituency. 

“In parts of rural Laois the roads don’t have the width for safe cycle ways. But wherever we can, and when we can encourage children to use their bicycles, we will,” Cllr Fennelly finished.