Chief Executive Officer of the Family Resource Centre National Forum, Fergal Landy, has been selected to run in the Oranmore-Athenry local electoral area for the Labour Party.
The qualified social worker was approved at an Oranmore selection convention last week.
Landy confirmed to the Advertiser he also intends to put his name forward to become Labour’s candidate for the Midlands-North-West constituency in the forthcoming European elections, to be held on the same day as the local elections, June 7.
The Labour Party will hold its European Parliament selection convention in the Clayton Hotel in Galway this weekend.
Originally from Sixmilebridge, County Clare, Landy has lived in the Oranmore-Maree area for over 20 years, and has been involved in sporting and community groups. He and his partner Áine’s three children attend local schools.
“I’ve made a decision to enter politics because it combines my experience as a volunteer in my own time, with my professional skills,” says Landy.
Dual mandate rules mean Landy will not be allowed – if double elected – to serve on Galway County Council and in the European Parliament. “I aim to serve where the people elect me. I’ll leave that question to the people,” says the 44-year-old.
Landy says he has twenty years of experience working in public service delivery and improvement, initially with the HSE as a social worker and community development officer. His current role oversees Ireland’s largest human rights-based community development and family support programme, with 121 Family Resource Centres across the country.
Landy has also undertaken academic research, policy development and teaching at the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, University of Galway.
Landy says he has listened to the frustrations of the Oranmore-Maree community, which has been “illogically split” between two different local electoral areas. He also indicated his intention to prioritise transport issues inclusive of the concerns of drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and public transport users across Oranmore, Athenry, Claregalway, and Annaghdown.
