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BARNTOWN’S Mayoral election has got off to a very good start, with each of the six candidates and their teams coming up with more and more plans to gain votes through fundraising.

‘Good humoured, imaginative, earnest, each candidate is keen to don the robes and wear the chain,’ said Barntown curate Fr John Carroll.

‘ The primary purpose of the whole venture was to bring people together. This is clearly emerging. The raising of funds is going extremely well also. All in all this looks like a winner. Good for the parish and good for the people,’ said Fr Carroll.

The campaign so far has been extremely enjoyable as expected. My campaign team and I have been delighted to see such a great response to our events to date. It is a pleasure to see such a community spirit within Barntown. At our first meeting, all six candidates made it very clear that this election was all about ‘Bringing Barntown Together’. I think we are achieving that. I would like to thank my committee for all their help and the parishioners for their generous support so far. I look forward to seeing you all at our upcoming events which include: OT walks every Tuesday and Thursday (7 p.m. new school track), Split the pot (draw every Thursday), Heritage Park Trek (February 4 at 2.30 p.m.), Heritage Talk (February 13 at 7 p.m.), Table Quz (March 2).

My main objective of the mayoral campaign is to pull people together, working for the betterment of all in the community. Communications is the key to all good projects. To that end I have produced a ‘flyer’ explaining the objects of the mayoral campaign and some of the proposed uses of funds that will be collected. I intend to deliver the ‘flyers’ by visiting as many housesholder as possible in the community. I hope to meet both young and old, especially new members of our community. My campaign is going at a steady pace. With a number of events already completed. I would like to thank all who have supported me so far.

Look out for lots of upcoming events. I have a Fashion Show in Slaney Manor on March 3 and would be delighted to see you there.

The first and last Mayor of Barntown Peter Codd, of Ballyhine, who died in 2008, served as the Mayor in 1979 after raising more money for the building of a new school than anyone else in the parish.

Peter wore his mayoral chains with distinction for a year, attending various functions and events in his official capacity as honorary first citizen of the area.

Six brave candidates have put their names forward - Donie O’Dowd, Martina Brazzill, Mag Gurhy, Billy Codd, Tom Dempsey and Declan Power - in what is hoped will be a good-humoured yet serious competition to be installed as the local first citizen.

The candidates have been set various challenges which will

My mayoral campaign is going exceptionally well. I have been so encouraged with the support and good wishes people have bestowed to me. The generosity of the community of Barntown Parish and indeed people outside of our Parish is quite amazing. The support of family, friends, colleagues and associates and not to mention my Campaign Team, is fantastic.

The events which I have planned so far include: A Valentines Party Night in our local pub Mary Jo’s on Saturday, February 11, a Badminton Marathon (date to be decided); Take a ‘Trip Back in Time’ - Viking Ship row experience on our beautiful River Slaney (date to be decided); and Bag packing in Dunne’s Stores - March 16 and 18. I also have a couple of other projects in the pipeline but they have not been finalised at the moment.

Despite rehearsing full time for Rathangan Variety Group’s production of ‘Oklahoma’ in February, I think my campaign is going quite well. Most of my fundraising will be happening in March. I’ve a variety concert coming up featuring some of my WLOS friends on March 19 at Barntown Church at 8 p.m. I’ve a table quiz organised for Mary Jo’s on March 8 at 8 p.m. and I’ve had huge support from the management and staff of Celtic Linen where I work. They are holding bake sales for me every Monday until March 20. A big thank you to everyone who has helped and supported me so far in this campaign. include fancy dress parades, ‘come dine with me’ competitions, rowing trials across the Slaney, manning a stall at the parish field day, to name but a few. Fr John Carroll said the new Mayor will be entitled to graze sheep and goats on parish lands and will be expected to be addressed as ‘Your Worship’ with an optional curtsey, a weekly (non transferable) free pint at Mary Jo’s, and a complimentary weekly copy of the Wexford People newspaper from O’Brien’s at Larkin’s Cross.

The New Mayor will officially perform the opening of the newly developed parish sports grounds once elected. We asked each of the candidates to set out their stalls and here is what they had to say:

HI. I am Billy Codd from the ‘Dairy Lane’ Ballyhine, Barntown. When I was asked to participate in the mayoral race I didn’t hesitate with my answer. If only every decision in life was as easy. My reasons for participating in the Mayor of Barntown campaign are varied but foremost are the happy childhood memories of growing up in Barntown; Paddy O Brien’s shop, Mary Joe’s orchard, Barntown school, and of course the beautiful St Alphonsus’s Church where I served as an altar boy to the wonderful Fr Lorenzo Cleary. There is of course the small matter of family pride. As everyone knows the first, last and only Mayor of Barntown was my uncle Peter Codd. A man of dignity and honour who never done things by half, so together with my team I intend to keep the title of first citizen of Barntown in the Codd Family for the pride and honour of the Clan. Best of luck to all the candidates.

I have lived in Barntown all my life and I am proud to be a Barntown woman, Barntown is a great parish with great community spirit, I have witnessed this throughout my life during celebrations and difficult times, how the community come together to support one another. For that reason I decided to run for Mayor of Barntown, I would like to give something back to the wonderful parish that I grew up in and now my three sons also have experienced the wonderful community that Barntown is.

To become Mayor of Barntown would be a great honour for me and I would hope to bring many of the great plans to fruition in the coming months. My facebook page is ‘Martina Brazzill for Mayor of Barntown 2017’ – Please like my page to hear about upcoming events.