Roscrea's Pre-election 'Meet Your Candidates' event planned

Roscrea's unique pre-election event, where local people are afforded an opportunity to meet the candidates seeking their vote ahead of the local elections face to face, will be held next month.

Roscrea Community Development Council (RCDC) have returned and announced they will hold their traditional style and very personal pre-election meeting in the town’s Abbey Hall on Monday, May 20, at 8pm.

By that date nominations for candidates contesting the local and European elections will have closed and it is hoped as many candidates competing to  become county councillors and win one of the nine seats on the Municipal District which covers Roscrea, Templemore and Thurles will attend.

RCDC Chairman and founder, John Lupton, told the Tribune the meeting will be open to

everyone and intended to allow the public to question and hear from the people who want to represent them.

With a population of approximately 5,550 and a voter turnout in the last local elections of a little over 65%, the approximately 3,000 valuable votes in the town area are hard fought for and with an anticipated tally in the region of 2,000 and four candidates based in the town seeking votes, it's likely to be neck-and-neck near the finish line.

John Lupton says that the next five years will be an important period for Roscrea’s development as the town is "now facing many challenges". 

He anticipates infrastructure, employment opportunities for younger people, business supports and development to feature prominently on voter's minds. "The challenges are huge," he said. 

"Roscrea and district needs the strongest possible voice at Municipal Council and County Council level and on the various committees of these Councils to support Roscrea’s much needed development over the next five years", Mr. Lupton said. 

In terms of infrastructure, business development and opportunity for our younger population; Roscrea, while having benefited from some development, which must be acknowledged, has nonetheless lost ground relative to its neighbouring towns in the past

number of years. 

"This trend needs to be reversed and effectively tackled in the years ahead," Mr. Lupton said .

The RCDC Chairman added they are issuing an open invitation to candidates in the European Parliament Elections for the Ireland South Constituency, which has Roscrea on its periphery. 

"I’m sure Roscrea may not be on the top of many of their electoral agenda, however, in the

context of balanced regional development they should take an interest in Roscrea and the challenges facing the town and the people. 

"We are hopeful that some of the European candidates for Ireland South may consider it worth their while to visit Roscrea on May 20 and attend our election public meeting and listen to the concerns of Roscrea people and the challenges facing them - especially in the context of balanced regional development and Roscrea’s present relative disadvantage in that regard."

"RCDC are hopeful for a good turnout of people in the Abbey Hall at 8pm on Monday, May 20 to meet the candidates and impress upon them the urgent needs of Roscrea and its people,” Mr. Lupton said.