Mayo candidate wants to restore 'common sense' to local council chamber
by Caoimhín Rowland
“I’m in it to win it”, proclaimed a confident Donal Geraghty about his prospects of securing a seat in the council chambers.
The 32-year-old family business owner of Geraghty Fuels, along with his father Paraic, is a die-in-the-wool Castlebar native and he is keen to restore some ‘common sense’ back into Mayo County Council.
“When was the last time you saw general operatives out there?” Geraghty asked me. “There are too many pen-pushers in the council and not enough people hired as ground staff."
Geraghty would like to see four seasonal employees to help out with the maintenance of the county town and wider afield.
It's a mammoth municipal district, stretching from Castlehill in north Mayo and as far south as the bridge in Finney.
Geraghty knows he won't be able to knock on every door in the county but this time he is not going it alone.
Running under the Independent Ireland grouping, Geraghty got in touch with Michael Fitzmaurice through a mutual friend.
"I’m passionate about Castlebar, worked in the hospital, and I know what that’s like. I do work for the Order of Malta and I set up the Darkness into Light event in Castlebar. I'm passionate about my community."
Boasting an impressive local CV, he was a no-brainer for the party.
Other candidates did apply but Geraghty received the call to represent the new grouping which has also added Ciaran Mullooly to their European Parliament ticket in this constituency and Claremorris farmer Mark Devane to run in the Claremorris local area.
A former local election candidate, Geraghty ran in 2014 as an independent.
"I was a lot greener then," he tells me. "I’ve more experience, running my own business in the town, and I know a lot more."
Interestingly, one of this election pledges to revitalise the town centre from 2014 is still a live topic in Castlebar. Confusion and delay over the sale or retention of the Imperial Hotel, uncertainty surrounding the Military Barracks and the general decay of much of Main Street and Ellison Street is on the top of many voters’ minds in Castlebar.
“I’ve got a masterplan for the barracks, I’ll be releasing it in the coming weeks," Geraghty promises, "but it’s a simple plan, phase one won’t even cost a penny and would be a lift to the whole town.”
For the Imperial Hotel, Geraghty prefers to see it used commercially.
“It’s not suitable for a hotel anymore,” pointing to the lack of car parking space, but stating he would ideally like to see a restaurant or bar there.
Geraghty will have to unseat one of the established major party members in the Castlebar district if he wants to win a seat. “They’re out of touch, the referendum results showed that and I’m a serious candidate,” he added.