Mayo native declares as Independent candidate for Galway City Council

ACHILL native Kenny Deery has this morning declared his intention to run as an Independent candidate for Galway City Council in the upcoming local elections.

Mr. Deery will add his name to the ballot paper in the Galway City West constituency, bringing an end to weeks of speculation following his shock decision not to seek an extension to his current contract as CEO of Galway Chamber, when it ends in early summer.

Well respected across the business community in Galway, Mr. Deery grew up in Bunnacurry on Achill Island, where his family ran a tourism business. Despite living in Galway for the last 10 years, he continues to be heavily involved with several organisations at home in Achill, and is a regular visitor to the area, where his sister Aisling and parents Bernie and Hughie still live.

Mr. Deery served on the board of Achill Tourism for seven years - three as chairperson - and during this time was central in the founding of the Achill Half-Marathon. He co-founded the Achill Experience in 2016, and has long been involved in charity work for a plethora of local and national organisations.

He is currently the chairperson of St. Colman’s Care Centre, and has been involved in many fundraisers for the local group over the years. He is also treasurer of Comhlacht Forbartha Áitiúil Acla, chairperson of the Achill Cleveland Twinning Committee, chairperson of Gteic Acaill, and a board member of Achill Sheltered Housing.

Launching his election campaign at Blackrock Pier, Mr. Deery said that his candidacy is born out of 'a deep frustration at how our city is being held back by the dysfunctionality of local government in Galway'.

“Right now, critical issues for residents, workers and families in Galway - like transport, housing and efficient local services - are not being tackled. Business opportunities are being lost to the city and expansion plans are stymied because vital infrastructure is not being delivered.

“Local councillors do not make all the decisions on infrastructure, but they have a powerful voice and they have a duty to use that voice fully to serve Galway’s needs,” he told the launch event.

A prominent business leader in the city, Mr. Deery is passionate about the need for a ‘One Galway’ approach to local government in the city and county. He is vowing to effect that change from within, urging residents, businesses and organisations across the constituency to put their trust in him.

“I am not interested in taking a seat for the sake of taking a seat; it is not a personal prize. I want to be elected so that I can effect change for you and for our city. We need a ‘One Galway’ approach, with everyone singing from the same hymn sheet.

“If elected, I will be the voice for unity and collaboration in the council chamber, but also for action. The time for talking and debating is over. We all know what the issues are, it’s time to see change in action. Galway deserves better from its city council, it deserves change. If elected, I will be that change,” he promised.

On March 12, Galway Chamber issued a statement confirming that Mr. Deery would not be seeking to renew his contract as CEO of the high-profile business organisation, saying: “Kenny has provided the Galway Chamber with remarkable leadership over the last five years. He has brought vision and been a strong voice of advocacy for our business community to the chamber. We are indebted to him for his work and his commitment to the role.”