Cast your vote on Tuesday eve at the PPN Plenary
Here is your opportunity as members of the Public Participation Network to decide who will be the person/s who best represents the voice of the Community, Social Inclusion & Environmental sector in Co. Offaly
JPC - Social Inclusion & Community
Mary Delaney - Clara Community Council
Mary is a qualified Social Worker (retired) and is very active in the local community of Clara where she is chairperson of the Clara Community and Family Resource Centre and secretary of the Clara Community Council. Mary has been a Joint Policing Committee (JPC) representative for the last 3 years where she has lobbied for increased staffing and opening hours at local Garda Stations and raised public concerns over rural crime with senior Gardai and Council.
Mary Margaret (June) Martin – Offaly Multiple Sclerosis Branch
Senior citizen June, a retired nurse and current member of the JPC, has always been inspired by the words of wisdom received from the older generation. She respects their values on life, work and education and use of common sense. While embracing the technological age and keeping up to date on social matters, June prefers the personal face-to-face contact or the written word for communications.
Vincent Bermingham – Ballydaly / Tinnycross Residents Association
Vincent is an active member of the Ballydaly /Tinnycross Residents Association and has served on the JPC for the last number of years. He has keen interest in local community matters and would like to continue in his role.
Jane Sims – Leabeg / Leamore Community Alert
Jane has a wealth of experience working with communities as an RGN Nurse, Day Care and Nursing Home Manager. She has specialised the last 20 years in Dementia / Alzheimer care. She is currently a committee member of the local text alert scheme. Jane would like to tackle local issues such as secure housing for the elderly; daycare & respite places; transport links to local activities to prevent rural isolation; environmental issues; fairer pricing for refuse collection to prevent illegal dumping; safer environment in small villages; increased police presence, improved street lighting and upgraded pavements.
Environment, Water & Drainage
Dolores Brereton – Daingean Development Association
Dolores has many years experience working in the community starting off with Daingean Youth Club, Daingean Playground/Playschool and more recently is an elected representative on the Bord na Mona Wind Farm Gain Mountlucas Awards Committee.
Sean Kane – Edenderry Coarse Angling Club
Sean is the treasurer of the Edenderry Coarse Angling Club for the last 19 years and believes he would be an asset to the PPN.
Economic Development, Enterprise & Planning
John O’ Connor - Edenderry Chamber of Commerce
John is a native of Edenderry and is the Environmental Manager for a large food production company located in Co. Offaly. John is also a board member for the newly formed Edenderry Chamber of Commerce. From working as part of a large successful company as well as the Chamber of Commerce, John has developed a wide range of skills which he believes would stand by him during his tenure of the SPC if he was elected. John is a young and tenacious individual and believes he can aid the PPN in achieving its objectives.
Environment LCDC
Eimhin Shortt – The Growery
Eimhin is a great advocate of environmental policy and issues. He has an in-depth knowledge of the role as he has served in the position for the last 3 years.
Rebekah Keaveny – Social Soil Network
Rebekah has spent the last 7 years in Wales developing an Environmental Education Centre. She has a lot of experience in the following areas: project development, green workshops, community regeneration, community events, sustainable building and renewable energy. Rebekah is also the Green Schools Co-Ordinator for Oxmantown NS, Birr.
Social Inclusion LCDC
Liz Fleming – Clara Community Family Resource Centre
Representation on the LCDC. Liz is the coordinator of Clara Family Resource Centre in Clara since 2005 and works with all age groups, from cradle to grave with an emphasis on supporting families and building communities. Liz has a number of years’ experience working in the community and attends PPN events. Elected through the ppn as social inclusion representative on the board of LCDC Liz has been hands-on in the development of the social inclusion community activation programme{SICAP} and would like to continue for a second term, to follow through on the delivery of the SICAP programme for Offaly, and other initiatives for the County
Margaret Murphy - Tullamore Community Family Resource Centre
Margaret is coordinator of Tullamore Family Resource Centre since 2005 and works with a specific focus towards supporting families and strengthening communities. Margaret has a number of years experience working in community development and achieved a BSC in Rural Development at NUI Maynooth in 2008. Elected through the PPN as a Social Inclusion representative on the board of OLDC, Margaret has been proactive in the development of the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme and would like to continue for a second term, to inform people of the implementation of strategies and to improve the life experiences / outcomes of socio-economic disadvantaged people.
Sandra McDonagh – Offaly Traveller Movement
Sandra is a mental health social worker for Offaly Traveller Movement since 2013. She has worked with members of the Travelling Community in a community development setting. She returned to full-time education as a mature student and graduated from NUI Maynooth with a Bsc Sc IN Social Science and from Trinity College Dublin with a Masters in Social Work. Sandra is currently the only professionally qualified social worker in Ireland who is also a member of the travelling community. Her work is part of a traveller specific mental health service called Travelling to Well-Being. Sandra is also the current chairperson of the National Traveller Women’s Forum.
Midland Regional Drugs & Alcohol Task Force
Lorraine Dormer – Wordsmiths Tullamore
Lorraine is 74 years of age and has many years experience in the Voluntary Sector. Since her retirement, she has been involved in the local community as a member of AGE ACTION and other voluntary lobby groups.
Heritage
Teresa Ryan-Feehan – Birr Historical Society
Teresa is the PRO for Birr Historical Society. She has organised / lectured on topics relating to World War 1 and the 1916-1922 period. Teresa initiated and produced the Historical Panel for Tesco on the first All-Ireland Hurling Final in Birr. She organises and conducts historical walks in Birr and is a member of Birr 2020 and Birr Ceoltas. Teresa was a production manager for the facsimile copy of the MacRegol Gospels which are currently on loan to Birr Library. Teresa served on the Environment SPC for a number of years and was a member of the Community Forum. Teresa is currently a member of the Heritage Forum.
Dudley Stewart – Charleville Castle Heritage Trust CLG
Dudley, a chartered engineer and innovator and has 20 years experience in Renewable Energy & Disaster Relief Operation Design & Control. He is strongly committed to community advancement and climate change migration. Dudley is nearing retirement and has a great personal interest in the PPN.
Housing
Annette Meacle – Mid-Offaly Housing Association
Annette has served as voluntary secretary and administrator for Mid-Offaly Housing Association in Mountbolus for the last 6 years, while being a member of the board for 15 years in total. Annette is a clinical nurse specialist (psychiatry) community & hospital based in Co. Offaly. She currently serves as Childrens Officer for Kilcormac Camogie Club and is a member of Mountbolus National School Parents Association. Annette also serves as a debating judge for Macra na Feirme.
Tony O’ Riordan – Midlands Simon Community
Tony has 25 years experience of community development and social inclusion, both in a paid and voluntary capacity. This includes: founding member of CE Scheme; founding member of youth work; regional development worker with Foroige in Tallaght and Cork City; community development worker responsible for supporting community development; projects in Ennis, Limerick City and Thurles (working with members of Travelling Community); long term unemployed and on rural transport issues; underage coach and member of Ballyskneach Killavilla GAA Club, Co. Offaly; appointed Chief Executive Officer with Midlands Simon Community in 2004. Tony has been a community rep on the Housing SPC and his direct experience if developing homeless services in Offaly, participation in the SPC allows Tony to bring the experience of homelessness in Offaly to a strategic policy level within the County Council.
Jacinta Dillon – Ballydaly / Tinnycross Residents Association
Jacinta is a retired community mental health nurse and has a life-long interest in social justice and equality. Jacinta is keenly aware of the importance and impact of a local community and its workings while strongly supporting the individual responsibility and accountability of all public representatives. If elected to the PPN, Jacinta would commit herself to the workings of the greater good, working to enhance the local community and all of its inhabitants equally.
All Pillars Transport & Emergency Services
Johnny Connors Durrow Community Alert
Johnny has represented the PPN on this SPC very effectively for the last 3 years. He has extensive experience working in a voluntary capacity with transport and the emergency services through the various roles he has on committees and with his involvement in the St Patricks day Parade, Community Alert and order of Malta.
