Progress but housing remains a challenge - Cllr Gibbons

For Paul Gibbons, public service did not begin with politics. Long before becoming a Sinn Féin councillor, he had established himself as a committed community leader.

A director of Castleblayney Credit Union for 18 years and chairman for four of those, Mr Gibbons also played a key role in community initiatives. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he founded the Castleblayney Food Bank, which continues to support families facing hardship. He is also currently vice-chairman of Cremartin GAA.

Reflecting on his decision to enter politics, Cllr Gibbons says it was a natural progression: “I always would have had that community involvement. The opportunity came up to run for Sinn Féin... so it was a very natural next step.”

Coming from what he describes as a strongly Republican family, Cllr Gibbons was honoured to follow former councillor Jackie Crowe, whose contribution to the area he greatly admired.

Since his election, Cllr Gibbons has focused on regeneration projects and tackling dereliction in Castleblayney. He has been a strong advocate for the redevelopment of key local landmarks, including Hope Castle, the Annex and the Market House. “These are county-wide issues, they are not parochial,” he says, arguing that assets such as Muckno should be viewed as amenities for the wider county.

He is particularly proud of progress on long-neglected buildings and derelict properties throughout the town, while Cllr Gibbons continues to highlight housing affordability as a major challenge.

Looking ahead, he is most excited about seeing the Market House restored. “I think it’ll be a great day for the town,” he says.

Yet for all the large-scale projects, it is helping individuals that remains at the heart of his work. “Getting a result for somebody... those small wins. I see the impact of helping people every day.”