Journalist added to Fianna Fail ticket in Ratoath ahead of June Local Elections
Local journalist John Donohoe, who has taken leave of absence from his role as deputy editor of the Meath Chronicle, has been added to the Fianna Fáil ticket to contest the Ratoath Municipal Area in June's local elections.
He joins Cllr Caroline O'Reilly, who was selected at convention in Dunshaughlin on Tuesday night last. Sitting Fianna Fáil councillor, Deirdre Geraghty Smith of Ratoath, is not running in this year's elections
Donohoe, a native of Killeen, Dunshaughlin, has been actively involved in organisations and societies in his native Kilmessan and Dunsany for many years, and has published local histories of Dunshaughlin, Dunsany, and Kilmessan.
Son of Peter Donohoe of Killeen and Dolores Hanbury of Kilmessan, he was educated at Dunsany National School and St Michael's Diocesan Secondary School, Trim, and studied media and communications at Colaiste Dhúlaigh in Dublin.
On graduation, he joined the Meath Weekender newspaper as Dunshaughlin correspondent in Navan, before moving to work in the Longford Leader. He returned to work in the Meath Chronicle in the summer of 2002.
Community involvement has included the Dunsany Cross County Chase Committee, a successful fundraiser for Dunsany National School and parish over 25 years, as well as the Skane Valley Community Council in Kilmessan-Dunsany. He is editor of its newsletter, the Skane News.
Published works include 'Dunsany 1894-1994', 'On the Banks of the Skane, a Millennium Memoir', and 'Dunshaughlin Through the Years', and he was recently elected PRO of Dunshaughlin and District Historical Society.
He was appointed a member of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission by then Minister for Communications, Noel Dempsey, and has been involved in the National Union of Journalists as chapel representative for the past decade.
“It is this work with local communities that has led me to the decision to run for the county council, as it is important to have a voice at council level, and I am grateful to Fianna Fáil for offering this opportunity,” he said.
“From my involvement with the Skane Valley Community Council to the local GAA clubs, and various societies and projects over the years, it is obvious that it is essential to have a strong presence representing the area in the council chamber.”
He says that working in local media over the years means he is aware of all the ongoing issues across the electoral area, and that he will also listen to people's concerns on the doorsteps.
“Naturally I am familiar with all the main issues affecting people across the municipal area, including speeding in Kilmessan, school building provision in Dunshaughlin, and the ongoing water problems in Ratoath,” he added.
“I look forward to meeting residents of the area on the doorsteps from Kilmessan and Kiltale up to Dunshaughlin, Drumree, Batterstown and Ratoath over the coming weeks, and hearing of their concerns.”