Election 2024: Browne keen to voice concerns of his generation

Social Democrats’ Castlebar local electoral area candidate Aidan Browne has vowed to be "aggressive" on the issues of housing and healthcare if elected to Mayo County Council.

The 33-year-old Lahardane native is hoping to be the first person from his area to be elected to the council since Frank Devaney in 1991.

“Local representation is important but there are bigger and wider issues. Working around the town, I know the issues facing Castlebar in terms of housing and healthcare. 

“I am in my 30s. I can’t go a week without talking to someone my own age about housing. If elected, I would be aggressive on social and affordable housing and aggressive on what land the council is picking up.” 

As a former carer for his grandmother, he said he has first-hand experience of the healthcare system and the challenges it brings to people everyday. Browne was also involved in a long-running and successful campaign to restore the GP service to Lahardane last year.

“I know what it is like to be under the pressure of needing an ambulance or a doctor and I would be a strong advocate on this.

“That is the benefit for me of being with the Social Democrats. They are the best party in the Dáil bar none when it comes to healthcare.” 

Browne is the only Social Democrats candidate running across the county’s six municipal districts. However, he said the party led by Holly Cairns is gaining momentum and making inroads in rural Ireland.

“We might have been knocked in the past for not being in rural areas enough but we’re making a huge effort to have a presence here. We have people running for election across the western seaboard and we’re making a push to be a truly national party.

“If you go to one of our conferences, it is full of people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. We might not be the most brash but we’re very good at talking to and listening to people.

“A lot of older people have told me on the doorsteps it is time younger people started to step up to be on Mayo County Council. I will be representing a generation if I am elected to the Council.” 

Browne said he feels he has the knowledge to hit the ground running should he be elected, as the holder of a degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Limerick, adding that he would be a dedicated county councillor.

“I would have no ambitions to run in the General Election. I want to get elected and be a councillor for five years and get the important projects done for Castlebar and my area. I want to get on with and do the actual job.”