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Councillor confirms he's standing down 18.07.08

McConalogue proposed as replacement

by Liam Porter, Inishowen Independent

INISHOWEN is now certain to have at least two new councillors following next year’s local elections following confirmation at the weekend that councillor Denis McGonagle will not contest the election next year.
Speaking to the Inishowen Independent yesterday, councillor McGonagle said he had spoken to the local Cumainn at the weekend and had informed them of his decision.
“I addressed the Carndonagh, Glentogher and Glassalts Cumainn at the weekend and let them know that due to health and age grounds I would not be seeking to contest the election next year.”
Councillor McGonagle said that the local Fianna Fail members had subsequently agreed to put forward a possible replacement for the long-serving councillor.
“With the elections approaching very quickly it was important to try to put forward somebody and I am fully behind the choice of Charlie McConalogue,” councillor McGonagle said.
Cllr. Denis McGonagle
At the meeting the local members nominated Charlie McConalogue to go forward for nomination as a Fianna Fáil candidate in next years Local Elections.
A son of the late Willie Joe McConalogue and Mary McConalogue, Carrowmore, he studied economics, politics and history at UCD before going on to work with Fianna Fáil Headquarters as the Party's Political Organiser for the Leinster Region.
Charlie McConalogue Speaking with party members at the cumainn meeting, Charlie said that he was honoured to be nominated to go forward for selection and pledged, if successful, to work hard to retain a seat for the area. He will seek a nomination later this year when the Fianna Fail Party hold a convention to select their candidates for next year’s elections.
Meanwhile outgoing councillor Denis McGonagle who said he will continue to work for the party has thanked all of the party members and fellow councillors for their
support over the years.
“I’ve enjoyed a long run as a councillor and I’m thankful to everyone who has helped me over the years, both party members and fellow councillors over the years. I’m looking forward to my final year in the chamber but to be honest I’m also looking forward to the rest,” he said.
Meanwhile the Fianna Fail party whip on the council, Francis Conaghan, yesterday praised councillor McGonagle’s service to the Inishowen peninsula and in particular the people of the greater Carndonagh area.
“When Denis lost his seat in 1999 by just fourteen votes he continued to work on the ground for the people and it was obvious that the work paid off when he was comfortably returned at the last local elections.”
Describing councillor McGonagle as ‘ a voice of great experience,’ councillor Conaghan said he was delighted to have become great friends with the Carn councillor over the years.
“As a colleague I want to pay tribute to Denis for his years of great service and it’s nice to see him take a personal decision to wind down what has been a very hard working political career,” he concluded.
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