First time independent candidate George Heslin to contest local election in the Ballinamore LEA

George Heslin, a first-time independent candidate from Gortletteragh has thrown his hat in the ring for the upcoming local elections in the Ballinamore Local Electoral Area.
Speaking to the Leitrim Observer, George, who was educated in Marian College in Mohill said he hoped to “replicate the dedication and caring work of all newly elected councillors in the next administration for the good of all communities in the Ballinamore, Drumshanbo, Gorvagh, Cloone, Aughavas, Carrigallen and Gortletteragh, my home place where I've lived all my life.”
He continued that he was “prepared to champion the needs of everyone that needs assistance in all these areas at local government level and beyond.”
He said that living close to Mohill, Cloone, Carrigallen and Ballinamore, “I see and understand the needs and wants of all those residents in those areas.”
The father-of-four said he has been “active in community life from a young age and has a farming background. I also have an electrician background and have worked with the ESB and qualified with a QQI Level 5 in business studies with financial services in 2005.”
In 2020 he qualified as a healthcare assistant.
He said that as a “family man in this rural community, I've seen first-hand the challenges of bad weather and higher costs of living facing our communities and businesses and families.”
He remarked that he sees “no urgency regarding capital expenditure being put in place in this area to give employment to the youth qualifying and having to leave our area to go to work in other countries.”
George said that he would work hard to “deliver on housing, healthcare and encourage investment in local towns where there could be a put off of the council rates.”
He continued, “I will lobby the banks to give younger couples a lower interest rate to build or buy their first home in Leitrim and make it easier against the planning restrictions facing new builds.
“I will lobby the government to make available a low interest loan for a neighbouring farmer to buy lands beside them instead of grants to forestry companies.”
He said that while he welcomed “millions being spent on footpaths and office accommodation and signs in all our local towns',” he believed that this was a “short-sighted approach for the future economy of the area and towns where there is no capital put in place for industry for jobs for the future young people of Leitrim and surrounding areas.
“All we have is the service industry, shops, etc. I believe in wanting a vibrant local economy where we can create employment and jobs and in turn, attract investment and have prosperity for all. We want investment in our infrastructure to keep growth in the areas of Gortletteragh, Cloone, Aughavas, Carrigallen and Ballinamore,” he said.
George, who is a strong supporter of the Joe Mooney Summer School stated, “We are fostering a sense of community and belonging and pride of place for where we live for our young and old and have a unifying and cohesive approach to overcome our challenges and build a better future together and put proposals to government to put capital and investment in these local areas which have been ignored for so long; harnessing all the abilities, skills and talents in our local community to make them much better to live and work.”
George said he wanted to support local communities and groups to create more cohesive communities.
He added that, “as a first-time candidate, I would like to add a fresh outlook and a new sense of energy and my allegiance with all the people of Gortletteragh, Cloone, Aughavas, Carrigallen and Ballinamore.”
The Gortletteragh man, who said a relation of his sat on the council in the 1950s, noted that the Heslin family have roots in the area going back 200 years.
“The Heslin family bought into the Drimmien land from a local Cloone landlord, George White from the Grange residence. My family has farmed here ever since.”
He stated, “I understand the foundations and trust and effective standards of integrity and ethics in office and would strive to ensure all voices are heard and all concerns are addressed.”
He concluded that residents of the areas “could build a better, more vibrant community and create employment for our young people to live and work here and encourage our government to come and invest in our industry to give jobs and employment now that broadband is almost here.”
George also took the opportunity to thank outgoing councillor Cllr Gerry Dolan for his lifetime of excellent work for the people of Drumshanbo and surrounding areas and affording him the opportunity to follow in his footsteps.