BREAKING: "This is not a democracy" - Angry Kildare politician storms out of meeting

There was shock in the headquarters of Kildare County Council (KCC) this morning when a councillor abruptly and angrily left a meeting.

Independent Cllr Tom McDonnell left the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting in frustration over what he alleged to be a lack of support from his fellow 'left-wing' councillors.

During the meeting, he motioned for KCC to build a swimming pool for Newbridge, a matter which he has previously raised at KCC meetings.

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However, Cllr McDonnell was visibly displeased when it took the chamber a small amount of time to offer a seconder (supporter) to his motion. 

Fianna Fáil Cllr Suzanne Doyle eventually agreed to second his motion, but this lack of immediate support prompted Cllr McDonnell to claim that he felt 'isolated' in the chamber, and claimed: "This is not a democracy".

Independent Cllr Tom McDonnell. Photograph credit: kildarecoco.ie

Fianna Fáil Cllr Rob Power subsequently requested the meeting to move to the next item on the agenda, as what Cllr McDonnell was making comments about 'was not about the motion at hand'.

The other members agreed to move on from the matter.

According to the standing orders of KCC, councillors can propose to move on directly to the next order of business.

As a result, Cllr McDonnell left the chamber, adding: "Well done, Kildare County Council. We are heading into communism."

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FOLLOW-UP STATEMENT

Shortly after the meeting, Cllr McDonnell requested a meeting with the journalists who were present at the meeting.

He repeated his claims that 'most of the other councillors are left-wing' and how he felt 'isolated' ever since he was first elected back in 2024.

Cllr McDonnell did however note that he has had support from some Fianna Fáil representatives in the past, 'in particular Cllr Noel Heavey [who is also the Mayor of the Municipal District].'

"Do they find me to be too powerful a politician?" he asked. "I have always been very courteous. I want to know what problem they have with me."

Cllr McDonnell added: "If they have an issue with me, don't take it out on the people of Newbridge [by not supporting his motion]."

He also compared himself to former Independent Cllr Fiona McLoughlin-Healy, and claimed that she felt 'isolated' by the other councillors too.

Furthermore, Cllr McDonnell went on to express concerns about International Protection Applicants (also known as asylum seekers) in Newbridge, as well as Ireland as a whole.

He also emphasised: "I am not anti-immigration, I am anti-illegal immigration... I have no issue with fair [i.e. legal] immigration."

Lastly, Cllr McDonnell claimed that he played a pivotal role in the recent fuel protests, adding: "I was the first to protest it."

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KCC RESPONSE

In response to Cllr McDonnell's motion, KCC issued a lengthy report.

It read as follows: "Swimming pools are extremely large-scale capital projects in terms of public investment, and the Swim Ireland nationwide analysis published in December 2025, indicates that investment in pools has a population catchment that is beyond the level of most individual towns, in terms of meeting demand, with extensive evidence of individuals crossing county boundaries to use pool facilities.

"The Council cannot restrict the usage of pools to residents of any specific area, noting that a pool for Newbridge residents specifically is being requested.

In its assessment of pool provision, Swim Ireland includes private facilities that offer pay as you go options, as well as public pools, whilst acknowledging the positive contribution that public pools make in terms of accessibility and affordability for
lessons."

KCC continued: "However, based on this approach, other municipal districts of the county are at
present more under-provisioned for swimming facilities.

"It is noted that the Curragh Pool has announced reopening for use by local schools and community groups, which is a very welcome development in terms of partly meeting demand, within a Municipal District of Kildare that it is acknowledged is
expanding significantly in terms of population.

"The County Kildare Active Recreation Infrastructure Study, an objective of the Development Plan and which is ongoing, and which was referenced in the March Council meeting, will seek to establish the current recreation provision in towns in the
County, the projected needs to 2040 based on population trends, and the resulting capital needs.

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KCC also noted: "The Newbridge Settlement Plan, adopted in February 2026, states: TCO 4.4 (a) Deliver a public swimming pool as part of the overall redevelopment of the former Machinery Yard site (in the ownership of Kildare County Council) as part of the Central Newbridge Settlement Consolidated Site.

"(b) In the event that the provision of a swimming pool at the former Machinery Yard is not feasible, consideration should be given to the lands to the east (immediately adjacent to the road) in the Newbridge North Key Development Area (KDA) (lands
zoned ‘F (2): Open Space and Amenity’ having regard to Objective HCO 6.1).

"However, as matters stand, currently there is no funding to progress a study on a pool in this [Municipal] District and the "Community and Civic" category of the Capital Programme for 2026 to 2028, noted at the November 2025 Budget meeting already, for this Municipal District, includes over 20 capital projects in receipt of some funding to initiate and a further seven projects listed as "subject to future funding".

"In addition, funding streams available from Government for Sports Capital projects do not currently include the cost of land acquisition and in any event the main potential fund for construction of a pool, the Large-Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) is closed and no announcements have been made regarding the next round of the LSSIF as of yet by Government. The relevant Minister has noted as recently as March 2026 that his Department’s current focus remains ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds of the LSSIF."

KCC concluded by pointing out: "The terms and conditions associated with the last round of the LSSIF in 2024 are available here."

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