The Green Party in Kerry is making sure that every voter in the county will get the option to vote Green in the 2024 Kerry County Council Elections.
The Kerry branch of the party has announced its line-up of candidates for next year’s local elections, with representatives in all six electoral areas as follows:
Tralee: Anluan Dunne; Killarney: Diarmaid Griffn; Listowel: Anne-Marie Fuller; Kenmare: Cleo Murphy; Dingle: Peadar Ó Fionnáin and in Castleisland: Paul Bowler.
A Major Achievement
Branch chairperson Paul Bowler, who will run in the Castleisland local electoral area, describes the announcement of six candidates as a major achievement.
“This is the first time the Green Party will run in all electoral areas in Kerry,” he said.
“It’s testament to the concern that exists about the climate threat. Our local branch has never been stronger and the six candidates have been working well together since 2020. I’m proud of the fact that we will be offering every voter in Kerry an opportunity to elect a Green Party representative to Kerry County Council in 2024.”
Costal Communities
Cleo Murphy, who stood for election in the Kenmare LEA in 2019 and polled 691 first preferences, will once again be seeking election.
“The Iveragh Peninsula is a very special place that deserves a Green voice speaking for it on the Council,” said Cleo and she continues: “Communities here are predominantly coastal and dependent on a tourism income. I’ll be campaigning for healthy seas and slow tourism. We have much to offer in this part of the world but we need to use our resources carefully to create and sustain quality livelihoods.
“We also need better public transport on the Ring of Kerry,” she said.
Listowel and North Kerry
Another previous candidate, Anne-Marie Fuller, who polled 683 first preferences in Tralee in 2019 is now turning her attention to Listowel and North Kerry and her campaign will center on new ways of economic thinking that work for people and planet.
“North Kerry has enormous untapped potential and I’m looking forward to getting out on the doorsteps and having conversations about how we can think global and act local to enhance both our quality of life and our environment,” she says. “We didn’t have a candidate in the Listowel area in 2019 but we have dedicated Green Party members on the ground and I’m delighted to be having a campaign there this time around.”
Tralee Candidate
The Green Party candidate for Tralee will be Anluan Dunne, who already campaigns for enhanced public transport, better air quality and vibrant towns and villages.
“Quality of life is massively important to people and I will be campaigning for more rail and bus services, better air quality, and investment in our town and village centres to make them places where people and families want to live, come to work and set up businesses,” he says.
“We have a huge opportunity to harness the Green economy across Kerry. With the offshore energy industry on the cusp of significant expansion in our county, and remote working now a very normal part of business life, we need people with a vision for the future and the ambition to deliver for Tralee and its surrounding area. We have seen the ambitious and evidence-based policies delivered by the Green Party in Government. Now I want to see this ambition realised at local level. We need energetic Green voices on the Council to advocate for the people of Kerry.”
Flying the Green Banner in Killarney
In Killarney, Diarmaid Griffin will be carrying the Green Party banner.
“As a Killarney person, I want to see our National Park protected and I’m proud of the work Minister Malcolm Noonan has done in this respect,” he says. “I also want to see a more inclusive society. I want the town to sustain into the future by tackling problems such as traffic, housing, and make our tourism industry more resilient. I will work hard towards a fairer Killarney for all.”
Corca Dhuibhne Candidate
Dingle GP Dr. Peadar Ó Fionnáin will be the candidate in Corca Dhuibhne, where former candidate Michael Fitzgerald polled 777 first preferences for the Green Party in 2019.
“We are in the last decade that we can act to avoid the worst effects of Climate Chaos,” he says. “Now is the time to show we care, and I am proud to be part of this team of committed and talented people who want to stand up for positive changes in Kerry.”
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