Cavan diaspora claim seats on two councils

Cavan diaspora have been successful in the recent local elections when two of them being elected to council bodies in Dublin and Wicklow for the first time in their political careers. Rossa Murray has been elected to Bray Town Council for the first time as a Sinn Féin candidate and he is the grandson of Bridget Murray from Billis in Cavan town, and his parents are Philip and Geraldine Murray. Meanwhile, Ray McAdam (25), son of Ann and Pat, and grandson of Seamus and Molly Clarke of New Line, Cootehill was elected to Dublin City Council on behalf of Fine Gael. Ray took the seat for the party in the North Inner City ward in Dublin Central, the first time the party had taken a seat in this ward since 1985. He began his campaign in July 2008 and his hard work paid off when he was deemed elected in the early hours of Sunday morning at the count centre in the RDS. Ray works full time as a parliamentary assistant to Senator Paschal Donohoe in Dublin Central. Meanwhile, on a visit to Cavan town last Thursday to see his 91-year-old grandmother, Rossa Murray spoke to the Anglo-Celt and said he was delighted to be elected. It was a major achievement for him and he was elected on the second count. He received 723 first preference votes and the quota was 776. 'I use to send a lot of time in Cavan in my early years and stayed at Jubilee Terrace and I attended St. Clare"s NS. I remember Sr. Lucia fondly.' Rossa also spent his summer holidays in Cavan and he enjoyed them immensely. 'I still have a lot of family residing in the Cavan town area and I try to visit them as much as possible. My grand mother will be 92 next October.' He also recalled having to attend the old Surgical Hospital to have his tonsils taken out, while he visited his relations. 'I loved my time here in Cavan and try and get down as much as possible.' Following his election, he feels he may not be able to get down as much in the future. Making his first visit to the county capital since his election, Rossa knows the challenges that face him. 'Unemployment is running high in Bray and there is currently about 4,800 on the dole, which is almost ten per cent of the population. I will also be seeking a reduction in rates for business and rent for small businesses.' The Dublin Bus employee is looking forward to joining his party colleague John Brady on the council. On his visit to Cavan he was joined by his father Philip and his uncle Paddy. Philip moved to Bray over 40 years ago and his wife Geraldine (nee Fitzmaurice) is also from Cavan. Her father was in fact manager of the old Providers store on Main Street. Following his election there were scene of jubilation as be became the third Sinn Féin member ever to be elected to Brady Town Council. At the time he claimed, 'this is the proudest say of my life. I promise all the voters that I will do everything in my power to make Bray a better place.' His grand mother Bridget was delighted and proud with Rossa"s achievement. 'He is a good boy and he will serve the people of Bray well. He is honest, fort right and a man of integrity.' Rossa, who lives in Palermo in Little Bray, claims that Sinn Féin are making get gains in Wicklow in recent times. They now have two members on Brady Town Council and two on Wicklow County Council. When asked if he would contest the county council in the next election, Rossa said he was not looking that far ahead and his main concern was serving the people of Bray to the best of his ability.