Declan Meehan, 29, from Milford, has confirmed that he will be seeking election to Donegal County Council as an independent candidate in the Milford Electoral Area.
He is the youngest candidate to enter the field to date.
Declan, who now lives in Ray near Rathmullan, is running on a community platform, with commitments to empower communities to reimagine and revive rural areas.
Speaking on his announcement today, Declan said: “I’m delighted to put my name forward for election in my home area to lead a Campaign for Change.
“The time for accepting representation that is content to keep things ticking along is over.
“The last local election took place in 2014. A lot has changed internationally and in Ireland since then, but little has changed locally in Donegal.
“We are still one of the most disadvantaged counties and our young people are still leaving in their droves.
“We deserve better representation that has a bigger, more ambitious vision for this part of the county.
“We cannot afford another five years of the same tired complacency from our county councillors, while Donegal, but particularly the Milford Electoral Area, continues to be left behind. I believe strongly that we can do better from our council, that we can better deliver on projects, that we can attract more funding and energise our rural communities again.
“We have amazing potential across our towns and rural peninsula areas, and I hope to work with communities to realise that potential”.
As a community youth worker Declan knows all too well that community and voluntary groups struggle to get the help and support they need to provide the services in our area.
He said: “I’m passionate about communities because communities are the back bone of rural Ireland.
“I want to be a voice for the people who give up their evenings and weekends to volunteer in sports clubs, community groups, tidy towns, social support groups and other endeavours that enrich our towns and villages.
“These groups are a hugely valuable resource in rural life, which often goes unacknowledged, unrepresented and unsupported. I’m committed to working with them to help achieve our community’s full potential”
His grassroots campaign will be entirely crowd-funded, with no corporate or business donations.
He said: “My Campaign for Change is not just about a change in who represents us in Lifford. It’s also about a change in the conduct of council business and how this is communicated.
“I believe that county councillors should be working for and communicating with those they represent for five years, and not just in the months running up to an election.
“I’m committed to transparency and I’m pledging to keep the public up to date with the projects I’m working on with regular website updates, regular newsletters and an annual report on what I am delivering with your support”.
Declan will be out and about meeting people in the area in the coming weeks and looks forward to listening to people’s concerns and ideas.
He would also like to welcome anyone to the Campaign for Change who wants to see real change at council level for the people of Milford, Rathmullan, Ramelton, Fanad, Rosguill, Kilmacrenan and surrounding areas. If you want to be part of this change, or have issues to discuss, please contact Declan on 085 1947339 or through declanmeehan.ie. People can donate to the campaign at https://www.gofundme.com/9wms5.
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