A young Donegal man has created a bit of history within the Green Party.
Conal O’Boyle from Muff, the Donegal Green Party Communications Officer speaking to the Transport motion at the Green Party Convention in Dublin on the 13th of July 2019.
The day will go down as a historic day for the 21 member Donegal Green Party, as the branch’s first motion since its reincarnation in early 2019 was passed by a two-thirds majority at the Green Party Annual Convention.
The motion, first tabled by the group’s youngest member Mr Boyle, calls on the Government to allocate 20% of the transport budget to projects in the North West region of Ireland, a region that includes Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim.
O’Boyle addressed the congregation at the Kings Hall inside the famous Law Society of Ireland.
He said “Thirty years ago in order for rural people to improve their lives, immigration to the east was the only thing that they could do. As you all know, The Rocky Road To Dublin tells the tale of a young man from Tuam who leaves his home to make a living.
“Recorded by the Dubliners in 1964, it could very easily be rerecorded 55 years later, but through the eyes of a young boy from Letterkenny, or Buncrana or Muff, who had to leave his home in order to attend college, find work, or attend his Party’s convention. The Rocky Road to Dublin still very much exists in Donegal.”
He did note in his speech that although the huge percentage did seem radical, he answered his critics in the room by saying what the Green Party have always said “Radical action for radical change!”
Following several amendments, the motion passed on a tight majority.
“It’s a really great day for us, and for me personally.” Said O’Boyle after the vote. “Last night and this morning there were some real doubters and it started to get into my head there just before I went up to speak. It’s safe to say that there where more doubters than believers based on who I was talking to!
However, more Party members voted for the motion that not, demonstrating a recognition that a change has to be made in terms of funding the Northwest region, and their vote was a symbol that they are behind us in what we are hopefully going to achieve next with this motion”.
“It’s definitely a huge achievement for us. If the Government do agree to allocate 20% to the region, it will be because the Green Party sustained the pressure on them to do that. It’s unbelievable to think that it came about because of a motion we brought forward. It’s definitely a proud day!”
“The Donegal Green Party have only been up and running in the last few months, so we didn’t have time to put up anyone for the local elections, but that’s the goal for us. We as a country need to make the switch to a low carbon economy and Donegal is a vital part of that transition.”