Townmeetingon Wednesdaynight

FOLLOWING the initial “Town Hall” meeting in August organised by Mayor Frank Godfrey and the Drogheda City Status Group and a follow up meeting he organised last month, the Mayor has announced details of the final “Town Hall” meeting to take place this year at the Westcourt Hotel, Drogheda on this Wednesday, November 21st commencing 7.30pm.

“The response from the community in the Greater Drogheda area to these meetings was phenomenal,” said the Mayor, adding “the fact that the panels of speakers were drawn from the community and that they spoke passionately about their pride in Drogheda and their hopes and aspirations for the future of this great and historic city really connected with the audience. For that reason, I want to hear the views of more people who live in the area.’

For the “Town Hall” meeting this Wednesday, a new panel from different backgrounds will ensure another lively and constructive debate with the audience about a vision of Drogheda as it moves from being Ireland’s largest town to becoming our next city.

Well known retailer, Niall Kierans will speak about how and why their family business has survived for one hundred years in the heart of Drogheda.

Rory McNulty is the recently appointed General Manager of the d Hotel. He comes to this position having held senior roles in the hospitality industry both in Ireland and the UK. Geoff Fitzpatrick who founded Fitz Scientific locally in 1998 with just two employees now employs 40 professionals providing compliance testing and monitoring services for clients in Ireland and the UK. He will speak about his keen interest in sports and leisure. He was one of the founders of the Boyne 10K – now Drogheda 10K – and the Boyneside Trail group.

John Kierans is a local businessman and Fianna Fail PRO. He has campaigned for the removal of the tolls locally on the M1 Motorway which penalise the local community and economy, as well as visitors to Drogheda. John advocates an all-party approach to removing the tolls.

Gabriel O’Brien is a Chartered Valuation Surveyor and Co-Director of REA O’Brien Collins who has over thirty years property industry experience, much of which has been in Drogheda. Based on his extensive local experience, he will speak about the landscape for residential and commercial property in the area.

Brian Hanratty held senior management roles in the financial services sector and worked in Ireland and Central Europe before moving to the not for profit (charity) sector as CEO of a charity which mainly focussed on humanitarian work in East Africa. He is a Council Member of Drogheda and District Chamber; a supporter of the Drogheda City Status Group as well as local history and heritage. He will speak about the need for job creation locally.

“I am again inviting everyone to come along to the Westcourt Hotel at 7.30pm this Wednesday. I would appeal to my fellow councillors to attend as well as Oireachtas members in the Louth/East Meath area. East Meath councillors are invited too, as well as members of the local communities there,’ concluded Mayor Frank Godfrey.