Meenan returns to seat on county council
Kevin Meenan is looking forward to returning to politics after being put forward by Sinn Féin to fill the vacancy on Louth county council following the election of Ruairí Ó Murchú to Dáil Éireann.
Meenan stepped aside from the local authority in 2017 on health grounds and on that occasion Ó Murchú was co-opted to take his place.
Kevin was the sole nomination by the Duffy Downey Cumman at last Thurday’s convention in the Redeemer centre. The formal co-option was due to take place in County Hall yesterday (Monday) evening.
A native of Glasgow, he was first elected to Dundalk town council in 1999 when he topped the poll in the. No. 2 ward with 688 first preference votes.
He served as vice-chairman and chairman of the town council before retaining his seat in 2004 when also elected for the first time to Louth county council in Dundalk South, topping the poll with 1,592 votes.
Kevin did not contest the 2009 county council elections but did hold onto his place on the old town council.
He was back on the county council following the 2014 election when borough and town councils were abolished, picking up 1,082 votes.
Cllr Meenan has been active in the community in the meantime, working for the last 15 months with young people in Muirhevnamór as a project co-ordinator engaging in cultural awareness.
He is all too aware of the issues facing citizens, witnessing them first hand when working alongside Ruairí Ó Murchú recently.
‘Health and housing are the big concerns, and drugs are a major worry for young people,’ he said.
Kevin is relishing serving as a councillor again, and pointed out in the past he enjoyed a good working relationship with officials.
‘I want to thank my cumann for putting their faith in my and my family,’ he remarked.