Newport councillor launches Local Election campaign and hopes she has done area 'proud'

A large crowd of supporters and well wishers turned out in Ryan’s Bar in Newport last Friday night for the launch of Cllr Fiona Bonfield’s re-election campaign.

The Labour councillor was first elected to Tipperary County Council in 2014, and topped the poll in 2019.

“Ten years ago, I stood here before you as a first time candidate and with all your support and the community’s support I won a seat on Tipperary County Council. I contested again in 2019 and was thrilled to have been able to represent the Newport area again for a second term. This would not have been achieved without you all and all the support and encouragement you have given to me, and I hope I have done you proud over the last 10 years,” she told the gathering, which included Tipperary Labour Party TD Alan Kelly, as well as candidates Louise Morgan Walsh from the Nenagh; Jordan Lewis from Roscrea, and Michael Brennan from Killenaule who will run in Carrick-on-Suir. Also present was the party’s Ireland South European election candidate Niamh Hourigan.

Cllr Bonfield said that she was looking forward to the campaign trail over the next few months.

“Over my 10 years on the Council I have worked hard in securing investment in all towns and villages in the Newport LEA. This work includes road improvements, footpath infrastructure, new town park and playground in Newport, refurbishment of community centres, Leader funding towards a new athletics track in Newport, Clár funding in Rearcross and Boher for improvements in their sports facilities,” she said.

Cllr BonfieId said that she had supported many clubs and organisations in securing small vital grants to run events and activities that support them in their communities.

A new Town Centre First Plan has been drafted for Newport, which is an exciting plan for the town going forward, she said. It will include improvements in public realm, streetscape, traffic calming, dereliction and supporting sustainable communities are all part of the plan

“We will also see an Active Travel investment in Birdhill village which will help with speed reduction through the village. The long-awaited Shannon Crossing and upgrade of the R494 between Birdhill and Ballina is a step closer to completion.

“All of these projects have been really special to me, and the reason I decided to run for local elections on day one was to support each and every community in my area as best I could, and I hope you can see I have given my all to the job,” said Cllr Bonfield.

The councillor said that her role often involved helping older people on an individual basis, and “to be honest with you, it’s the part of the job I like the most”.

She pointed out that these were the people that had worked hard over the years to progress Ireland and our areas and there came a time in their lives that they needed help and support in their later years.

Cllr Bonfield said that Deputy Kelly and she had worked hard to deliver many improvements in the Nenagh Newport area and without his support a lot of this work would not have been advanced.

“The life as a local councillor is wide and varied, it has its challenges but there are also good and enjoyable days,” said Cllr Bonfield.

She thanked the Labour Party in Tipperary, members of the Newport Labour Branch, Pat, Lizzie, Jimmy, Liam, her proposer, former councillor Sean Creamer, for all the support over the years.

“I hope I have served the party well and I hope to continue to do so going forward,” she said.

A special mention was given to deceased members Billy Nolan, Joe O’Donnell, Deirdre Ryan and her late father Martin.

“I think of these each and every day in all aspects of my work as a councillor and I will forever hold them close in my heart. Finally, to my family, my close friends Monica, Linda, Trisha and to all of you my friends, thank you all for what you do for me, to support me in every way. We are a team,” said Cllr Bonfield

Cllr Bonfield welcomed the other candidates to Newport and wished them the best of luck and urged voters in the Newport area to support Ms Hourigan.

Cllr Bonfield made special mention of paralympic athlete Cillian Dunne from Borrisokane, who was also present, saying that, despite his disability, had achieved so much in life from winning world titles in the Paralympic Games, to attending and graduating from college after studying Applied Strength and Conditioning.

Deputy Kelly, who acted as MC for the night, described Cllr Bonfield as “an incredible councillor who gets things done. I have never met anyone in my life who works as hard as Fiona Bonfield.”

Deputy Kelly said that Cllr Bonfield was “there for everybody” from Newport, to Portroe, Silvermines or Ballina.

“She treats everyday equally,” he said.

He said her attitude was that if someone needed help then we needed to help them.

Singer Molly O’Connell from Kilcommon, a rising star in the world of country music, entertained the crowd following the launch.