After 25 years, Joe still gets a buzz from local politics
Enniscrone-based councillor Joe Queenan.
Long-serving councillor Joe Queenan says he has more enthusiasm and energy for local politics than ever before after 25 years on Sligo County Council.
The Enniscrone-based councillor is looking to extend that stint in June in his sixth local election race, and his second as an Independent candidate having been an elected member of Fianna Fáil from 1999, when he was first elected to the old Dromore constituency, until 2015.
Cllr Queenan got the second highest number of first-preference votes in 2019 and was elected following the seventh count. Reflecting on a quarter of a century in politics, which notably began when he was elected by a mere 13 votes on his birthday, June 13, 1999, he said his love for the job continues to grow.
“I am more enthusiastic now than I was when first elected. I’m delighted to say I helped people. It is like winning a football match. If you get a small job done for someone and it makes them happy, that has always given me the same buzz,” he said.
“There is more money in the economy than ever before yet people are facing greater challenges and I have so much energy and enthusiasm to help them in whatever way I can.”
Cllr Queenan said he prides himself on his high level of community involvement. He is the director of Enniscrone Community Council, is involved with Easkey Meals on Wheels and is the club chairperson of Western Gaels hurling club, to name but a few.
“My policies have been the same for 25 years. I’m deep-rooted in community groups and I am involved with numerous groups.
“From there, I deal with the challenges people are facing every day. I work and own a business in Enniscrone and I know the issues people face as I meet the people every day in my shop.”
He said there are some big projects in the pipeline in his area that he wishes to see come to fruition as an elected representative. Cllr Queenan stressed the importance of having a local representative on the ground to continue to push these projects, such as the Enniscrone Cliff Bath House, Pavilion and Promenade development along.
“The project in Enniscrone is a big priority. Funding has been announced recently but it was a project that was six years in the making, working its way through local community groups to make sure it was fit for funding.
“We were delighted to get €8.4 million from Government but it was important that councillors were there to push the local authority to provide €1 million in match funding which will be vital to the project."
