Senator John Kelly Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht Affairs, Training & Skills
Born in Rath, Ballintubber, Co Roscommon in 1960, John has lived and worked in the Ballaghaderreen area for the last 24 years. Married to Brid who is currently teaching at the Community school in Castlerea and hails originally from Donegal, they have three children, Amy, Darragh and Ronan Educated at St Bride's National School Ballintubber – and CBS Roscommon, John commenced work at the Health Service Executive in the Western Region in 1980.He has been the Community Welfare Officer for the Ballaghaderreen area for over 24 years. Having chosen a career in Public Service, he acquired a deep and insightful perspective into the lives, needs and problems of the ordinary people of Co. Roscommon.
He certainly has vast experience in all areas of Health and Social Welfare. In 2004, John was motivated to pursue a seat on Roscommon Co Council by the complete lack of action by the incumbent candidates and topped the poll in the Ballaghaderreen electoral area. He was elected on the first count. In 2009 local elections, he topped the poll with two quotas and also ran in the 2007 general election, polling 4,500 first preference votes. Noting the changing political landscape John joined the Labour Party in February 2010 to ensure that the constituency will not be forgotten after the next general election.
He believes he can now offer the same alternative and committed action to the wider constituency of Roscommon/South Leitrim as part of Eamon Gilmore's team in Dail Eireann. John played both Football & Hurling with Oran GAA and soccer with Ballintubber Utd and is now one of the few remaining supporters of Leeds Utd and is a keen Roscommon GAA supporter. He was born into a family of fundraisers and throughout the years has personally raised over €70k for the Irish Wheelchair Association. John Kelly is a man with a mission who believes that hard work and perseverance is the only way to achieve success in solving the many problems facing the people of this region. He possesses integrity, honesty and commitment and will not be deterred from representing all his constituents equally. He is firmly committed to the retention of services at Roscommon County Hospital and he has campaigned strongly for the rights of local turfcutters on raised bogs.
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