Archive for 2009
First Day in Parliament
Posted on July 15, 2009 by Alan Kelly
Yesterday was the first day of the new European Parliament in Strasbourg. On a personal level it was a great day for me to finally begin my work as the new MEP for Munster. I felt a sense of history as the first MEP since Eileen Desmond to represent the Labour party in my area. I was also delighted to be part of a new Labour team with Prionsias De Rossa and Nessa Childers.
Permanent link | Categories: EU Alan Kelly MEP
Chasing the Lions!
Posted on July 02, 2009 by Alan Kelly
Regina and I went to South Africa for a break after the election and took in the final Lions test match. It was great to be there to support the Irish players, particularly the Munster lads and the captain Paul O'Connell. It was a brillant occasion. We happened to be joined in Joburg by my parents who got a last minute trip there as well. So it was a bit of a family occasion that I would not have dreamed of happening a few weeks earlier.
Permanent link | Categories: Lions Munster Paul OConnell Alan Kelly MEP
Coming Back Home
Posted on June 11, 2009 by Alan Kelly
I got back to my home village of Portroe early on the 9th to be met by a huge crowd of supporters and well wishers. I have to say it was one of the most special nights of my life. Before that I was met by a large convey of cars at the county bounds near Limerick to welcome me home. We proceeded in a convey through Nenagh and out then to Portroe. The village of newly elected Cllr. Jonathan Meaney, County hurling manager Liam Sheedy (and goalie Darren Gleeson), the brillant musician Gerry O'Connor and of course Aoife Kelly, our Rose of Tralee. It is a small parish but one of the most united in the country and I'm exceptionally proud to come from there.
Permanent link | Categories: Portroe • Nenagh • Sean Creamer • Jonathan Meaney • Labour • Ireland South • Munster • Tipperary
Thank You
Posted on June 10, 2009 by Alan Kelly
A big thank you to the people of Ireland South for choosing me to represent you in the European Parliament. It is a great honour and a privilege. It was a very enjoyable campaign and one that I will always cherish. I want to thank the thousands of people voted for me. I will do my best at all times to ensure they get the best representation at EU level, whether they are workers, fishermen or farmers. I also believe we can learn an awful lot more from Europe in a progressive way and I intend to demonstrate that.
Permanent link | Categories: EU • Munster • Ireland South • Labour • Eamon Gilmore • Alan Kelly
Running Mates – Thanks to Éamonn Coghlan
Posted on June 01, 2009 by Alan Kelly
Managed to secure the number 1 jersey for the Cork City Marathon. Hope that is a good open for Election Day. Éamonn Coghlan came down for the marathon too. Wish I was as fit as he is but there you go, you can’t realistically run an election and be an athlete.
Anyway it was nice to hear his kind words of support for the campaign. We need people with ambition to get things done and to hear Éamonn talk about his own background and how he got through his tough times is inspiring.
Permanent link | Categories: Arts Sport & Tourism
Match Day Cheer
Posted on May 31, 2009 by Alan Kelly
Thankfully Tipp came out on top of today’s clash. After a powerful display in the first half the momentum was lost and Cork showed tremendous resolve to come back and were almost successful. They will have a say in where Liam McCarthy goes yet. You can be assured of that. Especially when their preparations were interrupted by the whole strike business.
Anyway the canvassing goes on. Eamon Gilmore along with Ciaran & Kathleen Lynch. We had the balloons, the music but it was nice to spend time on Liberty square meeting and greeting.
Permanent link | Categories: Arts Sport & Tourism
Bringing it All Back Home
Posted on May 28, 2009 by Alan Kelly
It was amazing to round off a party leader’s tour with a trip to my own home village of Portroe. For those who don’t know, it represents the heart of the Labour party in North Tipperary and the village itself and the people I grew up with helped form my own political philosophy.
It goes back to the days when the slate quarry was the main employer locally, back over seventy years ago. The local Labour party formed around the unions of workers employed in the factory and that togetherness has held firm in the community ever since.
Permanent link | Categories: Community Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs
Morale of Public Service is a Major Worry
Posted on May 24, 2009 by Alan Kelly
Running across the country trying to meet as many people and shake as many hands as possible at the moment. Many of the conversations involved light-hearted banter, but when you get into the serious nitty-gritty with people, you come across some disturbing trends.
Right now, public service morale is at a disturbingly low level. Whether it is teachers, nurses, administrators, engineers, every public servant you meet has plenty of valid reasons to angry. The worry is if will this start affecting performance, as it is bound to and will the vulnerable people who need the public service the most, suffer the most?
Permanent link | Categories: Communications • Community Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs • Defence • Education • Finance
Labour brand continuing to attract new voters
Posted on May 18, 2009 by Alan Kelly
Just to say thanks to Peter Clohessy for his words of support for the campaign. It is an honour to have the backing of someone of his calibre and to be promised a vote from it as a Munster fan.
Without knowing Peter’s political views previously, it is an example of the type of new vote Labour is attracting. The response on the street is magnificent and more people have opened up their mind to voting Labour. When you stop people on the street you and ask the question ‘would you consider voting Labour?’ the majority of people are stopping to think. The challenge is now to turn that good will into votes, which I believe is possible.
Permanent link | Categories: Arts Sport & Tourism
Manifesto launch then back to Munster
Posted on May 14, 2009 by Alan Kelly
The rough and tumble of campaigning is very much underway. We are entering the time that all of us who are passionate about our politics love, the final furlong of a long campaign. Launching the European manifesto with my colleagues went extremely well and as always the party leader continues to impress.
The man just seems to always make sense. He doesn’t do waffle or spin. Every question he faces is dealt with in a practical and honest manner. It is no mystery why his name pops up on the doorsteps and the shopping centres all the time. People are crying out for clear thinkers and people who can communicate with empathy.
