Belturbet Cathaoirleach Wilson to run in local elections

Seamus Enright

The Anglo-Celt has learned of yet another candidate set to run in the Cavan-Belturbet area for the upcoming local elections in May - this time it's Cathaoirleach of Belturbet Town Council Barry Wilson.

Cllr Wilson will run on the Fine Gael ticket. His name on the ballot paper for the area is a dramatic turnaround, given that up until last month no likely candidate, despite the being sounded out, seemed likely to emerge from existing pool of elected members in Belturbet.

Further to that, Fine Gael head office had discounted that they would be seeking a fourth candidate to run in an area where Cllrs Peter McVitty and Madeline Argue, as well as Cavan Town Mayor Jacqui Lewis are also set to canvas.

Even still, Cllr Wilson told this newspaper he is proud of the nomination and, if elected, of the chance to represent the area of Cavan-Belturbet.

He added that with the incoming reforms there was a greater scope for new socio-economic committees to have real impact on improving local economies.

“I've learned a lot in my time working on Belturbet Town Council and I hope to bring that experience with me in going for this election.”

Cllr Wilson has in the past been highly critical on the downgrading or loss of vital services from rural towns, Belturbet included, while at the same time been hugely supportive of development of innovative tourism techniques to boost local economies.

“I want to work as a candidate for the whole area,' he said.

“Recovery and job creation are the words of the day, things are definitely improving but there is still a lot of work to do”, he said.