Bonfield launches election campaign

A new plan for the town centre has been drafted by Tipperary County Council for the upgrading of Newport, it has been announced.

The announcement, which will be warmly welcomed by the community, was made by local councillor, Fiona Bonfield, at the launch of her campaign for the upcoming local election taking place on June 7.

Fiona is seeking re-election for her third consecutive term as Labour Party councillor for the Newport Local Electoral Area which she has represented on Tipperary County Council since 2014. She told the gathering of supporters at Ryan's Bar, Newport, on Friday night that the comprehensive plan for the town has now been drafted.

“Just this week a New Town Centre First Plan has been drafted for Newport which is an exciting plan for the town going forward where improvements in public realm, streetscape, traffic calming, dereliction and supporting sustainable communities are all part of the plan,” she said.

The attendance included Alan Kelly, TD, Niamh Hourigan, Labour Party candidate for Ireland South in the European Elections, Local Election candidates, Louise Morgan Walsh (Nenagh LEA), Jordan Lewis (Roscrea/Templemore LEA) and Michael Brennan (Carrick-on Suir LEA).

Also present to support Fiona's campaign was wheelchair racer and winner of many titles, Cillian Dunne, along with well-known traditional singer, Molly O'Connell, who entertained the gathering. Introducing his cousin, Cllr Fiona Bonfield, Deputy Alan Kelly described her as “the hardest working politician I have ever met” whose objective is to help everyone and serve the entire community.

He highlighted her leading role in the delivery of the recently opened Town Park and Playground at Newport stressing that “there is nothing like it anywhere in the country” and is the result of many years of hard work and commitment.

In her address, Cllr Fiona Bonfield highlighted the infrastructural developments in progress within the electoral area.

In addition to the New Town Plan draft “we will also see an Active Travel Investment in Birdhill Village which will help with speed reduction through the village and the long-awaited Shannon Crossing and upgrade of the R494 between Birdhill and Ballina is a step closer to completion,” she said.

Cllr Bonfield added: “All of these projects have been really special to me, and the reason I decided to run for local elections from day one was to support each and every community.

“My role as a councillor often involves helping older people on an individual basis, and to be honest with you, it’s the part of the job I like the most.

“I always aim to help our elderly population as much as I can, as these are the people that have worked hard over the years to progress Ireland and our areas and there comes a time in their lives that they need help and support in their later years,” she said.

Paying tribute to Deputy Alan Kelly as “a super colleague, friend and cousin” during her time in politics, she said that without his support a lot of the work within the area would not have been advanced.

She described Breda Lenihan and Marie Tuohey, as “two great women who have been my backbone in anything I do".

Cllr Bonfield thanked them for all their support, help and encouragement over the years.

She paid tribute to those who supported her in the past and are no longer with us, which includes her late father, Martin Bonfield and thanked, Cillian Dunne, who despite his disability, has achieved so much in life as a wheelchair racer, winning multiple titles and medals, attending and graduating from college after studying Applied Strength and Conditioning and as someone who is always such a positive person.