TO ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS - LABOUR PARTY
DÚN LAOGHAIRE CENTRAL WARD
11, Desmond Avenue
Dún Laoghaire
Co. Dublin
Re: Selection Convention May 22nd 2008
A Chairde,
I am a committed community activist with considerable knowledge and experience of the local issues that are of real concern to the wider electorate and therefore, I am seeking your No. 1 vote to be selected to contest the Local Government Elections in 2009 in the Dún Laoghaire Ward.
Born and reared in the Dún Laoghaire Ward and from a family with six generations in the Town, I have literally hundreds of relatives and wider family associations throughout the Ward. This close connection with the people of the Ward has been the bedrock of my lifelong commitment to the betterment of my community and my hometown of Dún Laoghaire.
Living in the heart of what should be natural Labour territory in the centre of Dún Laoghaire, I bring to this convention the only hope of not only gaining an extra seat, but increasing the party’s share of the vote in Dún Laoghaire. As you will note from the list overleaf, I have a proven record of working in the community on matters of real concern locally. I have eighteen years experience dealing with the Local Authority on a range of community issues from TRAFFIC, PARKING, CLAMPING, ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR, LITTER, CRIME & DRUGS, SPORT & RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, YOUNG PEOPLE, ARTS, CULTURE & HERITAGE, PARKS and COASTAL & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLANS in Dún Laoghaire. These are the REAL ISSUES of concern to the wider electorate and the ONLY ISSUES that Members should address in this convention if we are serious about capturing TWO SEATS in Dún Laoghaire.
I believe that working with our long-time Labour standard bearer, Cllr. Jane Dillon-Byrne, that if I am selected, we will successfully capture TWO SEATS and carry Labour’s message effectively into the future throughout the Ward. In the interim we will provide a formidable team to advance and protect the interests of our community – the wider electorate, now and in the run-up to the Local Elections.
The political landscape is changing as we move towards the Local Elections next year. New pressures are being brought to bear on the Party in the Dún Laoghaire Ward from the newly invigorated Green Party, Sinn Féin and from the People-Before-Profit chameleon bandwagon. We cannot and must not shackle the Party’s ability to facedown this challenge locally. Therefore, we must select a person with a proven track record of real community action in the Ward to meet this serious electoral challenge.
The wider electorate should be the main focus of concern to Members at this convention because, at the end of the day, it is the wider electorate alone that will decide on the fortunes of our Party. Remember, that the decision we make at this convention is not about worthy service to Party alone, it is essentially a vital decision on the future of LABOUR in the Dún Laoghaire Ward.
Please help reclaim and secure the Labour heartland of Dún Laoghaire by VOTING No. 1 – MICHAEL MERRIGAN at the Selection Convention on the 22nd May 2008.
Many thanks & Kindest regards,
MICHAEL MERRIGAN
Born and reared in the Dún Laoghaire Ward and from a family with six generations in the Town, I have literally hundreds of relatives and wider family associations throughout the Ward. This close connection with the people of the Ward has been the bedrock of my lifelong commitment to the betterment of my community and my hometown of Dún Laoghaire.
Living in the heart of what should be natural Labour territory in the centre of Dún Laoghaire, I bring to this convention the only hope of not only gaining an extra seat, but increasing the party’s share of the vote in Dún Laoghaire. As you will note from the list overleaf, I have a proven record of working in the community on matters of real concern locally. I have eighteen years experience dealing with the Local Authority on a range of community issues from TRAFFIC, PARKING, CLAMPING, ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR, LITTER, CRIME & DRUGS, SPORT & RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, YOUNG PEOPLE, ARTS, CULTURE & HERITAGE, PARKS and COASTAL & COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLANS in Dún Laoghaire. These are the REAL ISSUES of concern to the wider electorate and the ONLY ISSUES that Members should address in this convention if we are serious about capturing TWO SEATS in Dún Laoghaire.
I believe that working with our long-time Labour standard bearer, Cllr. Jane Dillon-Byrne, that if I am selected, we will successfully capture TWO SEATS and carry Labour’s message effectively into the future throughout the Ward. In the interim we will provide a formidable team to advance and protect the interests of our community – the wider electorate, now and in the run-up to the Local Elections.
The political landscape is changing as we move towards the Local Elections next year. New pressures are being brought to bear on the Party in the Dún Laoghaire Ward from the newly invigorated Green Party, Sinn Féin and from the People-Before-Profit chameleon bandwagon. We cannot and must not shackle the Party’s ability to facedown this challenge locally. Therefore, we must select a person with a proven track record of real community action in the Ward to meet this serious electoral challenge.
The wider electorate should be the main focus of concern to Members at this convention because, at the end of the day, it is the wider electorate alone that will decide on the fortunes of our Party. Remember, that the decision we make at this convention is not about worthy service to Party alone, it is essentially a vital decision on the future of LABOUR in the Dún Laoghaire Ward.
Please help reclaim and secure the Labour heartland of Dún Laoghaire by VOTING No. 1 – MICHAEL MERRIGAN at the Selection Convention on the 22nd May 2008.
Many thanks & Kindest regards,
MICHAEL MERRIGAN
MY RECORD IN COMMUNITY ACTION
DÚN LAOGHAIRE RATHDOWN COUNTY COUNCIL
Strategic Policy Committee – Planning, Development & Tourism 1998-2001.
Strategic Policy Committee – Culture, Community Development & Amenities 1998 - currently.
Elected Sectoral Representative – Submissions on Tourism, Placenames, Heritage, Play Areas, Arts, Parks and Amenities Policy and on Community Development Matters, including Sport and the Coastal Zone.
DÚN LAOGHAIRE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Current Chairperson of the Community Association. Co-founder of the Association (2001). Liaison with the Community Development, Housing, Parks, Environment and Roads & Traffic Departments of the County Council for and on behalf of the residents in Dún Laoghaire.
Web-Blog: www.dunlaoghairecommunity.blogspot.com
DÚN LAOGHAIRE TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB LTD.
Chairperson and Director of the Club founded in 2002 in conjunction with the DLCA, An Gárda Síochána and the County Council as a “youth diversionary project” and to successively integrate the young asylum seekers / refugees into community activities in Dún Laoghaire through the universal love of sport.
Winner of the County Council’s Social Inclusion Award in 2003 Web-Blog: www.dltfc.blogspot.com
HOLYHEAD DÚN LAOGHAIRE LINK
Executive Liaison Officer, Delegate. Promoter of joint initiatives between the two towns. Advocated links between our Constituency Party and the Anglesey Labour Party. Organised visits to the Oireachtas & Stormont for Welsh County Councillors and Labour MP for Ynys Mon. Campaigned for Labour in North Wales.
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND
Founder, currently Director and Company / General Secretary. Founded in 1990 as the Dún Laoghaire Genealogical Society, the Society is now the premier non-governmental organisation dealing with genealogy and heraldry. The Society has a sizeable membership throughout the county. Website: http://www.familyhistory.ie/
“DÚN LAOGHAIRE NEWS”
Editor of the Dún Laoghaire Community Association quarterly newsletter on issues of concern to the residents of central Dún Laoghaire. Advancing the “Community Manifesto” of which, I am the joint author.
DÚN LAOGHAIRE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN / ANTI-CLAMPING CAMPAIGN
Joint author of the Dún Laoghaire Community Association’s proposal for Traffic Management, and author of submissions on same to County Council. Organiser of community protest marches against the County Council’s inaction on Traffic and co-organiser of the Anti-Clamping Campaign.
DÚN LAOGHAIRE – DUBLIN’S RIVIERA
Community Tourism Initiative from 1998 – 2002. Past Chairman and Public Relations Officer of the Community Tourism Initiative for the coastal area of the County. Author of the “Dublin’s Riviera Coastal Plan”. Liaison with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Tourism and Dublin Tourism.
DÚN LAOGHAIRE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
On-going liaison with the Secretary of the DLBA to develop joint strategies on the development and promotion of the Town of Dún Laoghaire and its hinterland, including the preparation of submissions for the DLBA.
AN FORAM OIDHREACHTA – DÚN LAOGHAIRE RATHDOWN
Founder of the Heritage Forum in 1996 to promote co-operation between heritage, cultural and arts organisations in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown. Author of “Towards a County Heritage Policy” published in January 1997 and originator of the “County Heritage Plan” and “County Heritage Officer” concepts nationally.
CENTRAL DÚN LAOGHAIRE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
Former Director and Company Secretary of the Park House Community Resource Centre on Library Road, Dún Laoghaire – a joint project between the local community and the County Council.
BELLEVUE, GLENAGEARY & ROCHESTOWN RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
Executive Committee member and Road Representative 1990-1998
I am also a published author on history, local history, genealogy, vexillology, heraldry, surnames, Celtic languages, tourism, politics and community development. Campaigned on several pieces of legislation and successfully achieved amendments thereto, including 28 amendments to the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997. I researched and drafted the Genealogy & Heraldry Bill, 2006 which was debated in Seanad Éireann in December 2006 and I drafted two other Bills currently pending presentation by Senators. I contested the Seanad Éireann General Election in 2007 receiving 10,000 1st preference votes. Currently lobbying on draft legislation.
DÚN LAOGHAIRE TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB LTD.
Chairperson and Director of the Club founded in 2002 in conjunction with the DLCA, An Gárda Síochána and the County Council as a “youth diversionary project” and to successively integrate the young asylum seekers / refugees into community activities in Dún Laoghaire through the universal love of sport.
Winner of the County Council’s Social Inclusion Award in 2003 Web-Blog: www.dltfc.blogspot.com
HOLYHEAD DÚN LAOGHAIRE LINK
Executive Liaison Officer, Delegate. Promoter of joint initiatives between the two towns. Advocated links between our Constituency Party and the Anglesey Labour Party. Organised visits to the Oireachtas & Stormont for Welsh County Councillors and Labour MP for Ynys Mon. Campaigned for Labour in North Wales.
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND
Founder, currently Director and Company / General Secretary. Founded in 1990 as the Dún Laoghaire Genealogical Society, the Society is now the premier non-governmental organisation dealing with genealogy and heraldry. The Society has a sizeable membership throughout the county. Website: http://www.familyhistory.ie/
“DÚN LAOGHAIRE NEWS”
Editor of the Dún Laoghaire Community Association quarterly newsletter on issues of concern to the residents of central Dún Laoghaire. Advancing the “Community Manifesto” of which, I am the joint author.
DÚN LAOGHAIRE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN / ANTI-CLAMPING CAMPAIGN
Joint author of the Dún Laoghaire Community Association’s proposal for Traffic Management, and author of submissions on same to County Council. Organiser of community protest marches against the County Council’s inaction on Traffic and co-organiser of the Anti-Clamping Campaign.
DÚN LAOGHAIRE – DUBLIN’S RIVIERA
Community Tourism Initiative from 1998 – 2002. Past Chairman and Public Relations Officer of the Community Tourism Initiative for the coastal area of the County. Author of the “Dublin’s Riviera Coastal Plan”. Liaison with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Tourism and Dublin Tourism.
DÚN LAOGHAIRE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
On-going liaison with the Secretary of the DLBA to develop joint strategies on the development and promotion of the Town of Dún Laoghaire and its hinterland, including the preparation of submissions for the DLBA.
AN FORAM OIDHREACHTA – DÚN LAOGHAIRE RATHDOWN
Founder of the Heritage Forum in 1996 to promote co-operation between heritage, cultural and arts organisations in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown. Author of “Towards a County Heritage Policy” published in January 1997 and originator of the “County Heritage Plan” and “County Heritage Officer” concepts nationally.
CENTRAL DÚN LAOGHAIRE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
Former Director and Company Secretary of the Park House Community Resource Centre on Library Road, Dún Laoghaire – a joint project between the local community and the County Council.
BELLEVUE, GLENAGEARY & ROCHESTOWN RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
Executive Committee member and Road Representative 1990-1998
I am also a published author on history, local history, genealogy, vexillology, heraldry, surnames, Celtic languages, tourism, politics and community development. Campaigned on several pieces of legislation and successfully achieved amendments thereto, including 28 amendments to the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997. I researched and drafted the Genealogy & Heraldry Bill, 2006 which was debated in Seanad Éireann in December 2006 and I drafted two other Bills currently pending presentation by Senators. I contested the Seanad Éireann General Election in 2007 receiving 10,000 1st preference votes. Currently lobbying on draft legislation.
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