A Letterkenny man who has recently resigned from Fine Gael is to contest the general Election as an Independent candidate.
Frank O’Donnell been actively involved with the Fine Gael Party for over 20 years.
Until recent weeks, the Rathmullan native was the Chair of the FG branch in Letterkenny and says he had become disillusioned with the Party at a national level with their mantra that the Republic of Ireland is the best place to be on earth.
Mr O’Donnell confirmed his plans in an interview with the Tirconaill Tribune.
“At national level Fine Gael and the Government are telling us everything is going so good. Well that is not the case here in Donegal,” he said.
“I just feel that the Government is not listening to us up here. It’s far from good in this county. I was giving out about that for a good while so now I am putting my name out there and will be campaigning on a range of issues that I feel very strongly about.
“I have resigned from Fine Gael but it is nothing against the Party locally. 99% of them are still friends of mine. But when you are in a Party you have to tow their line on everything that comes down from Headquarters,” O’Donnell said.
He acknowledges that it is an enormous undertaking but is preparing the best he can for the election campaign.
“I will have the support of family, friends and former Fine Gael people who are going to work for me. I have family in Inishowen and contacts in the Glenties area that are going to help me.
“Of course I won’t get to every door personally but my literature will be delivered by An Post,” he said.
O’Donnell is very well known in the Letterkenny area through his involvement in a number of community organisations at various times including the Letterkenny Residents Association and the Letterkenny Heritage Group.
He was also a member of the Letterkenny & District Schoolboys Football Association and a former manager of the Glencar
Celtic team.
He worked in Unifi for 12 years and then 31 years as a porter at Letterkenny University where he was a longtime Trade Union Senior Shop Steward.
He also has strong Glenswilly connections through his wife Eileen, formerly a member of the McDaid family. The couple have four children and four grandchildren.
O’Donnell is also well known in his native Rathmullan and Milford where he went to secondary school. He played for Rathmullan F.C. and Bonagee Utd along with Roger Casements GAA Club and is currently a member of Letterkenny Gaels.
Having left school early O’Donnell returned to education and successfully completed his Leaving Cert through the ETB.
In Fine Gael he held the positions of Chairperson of both the Constituency and the local Dr. McGinley/Michael Collins Branch in Letterkenny.
He was Director of Elections for FG’s Jimmy Kavanagh who recently retained his seat on Donegal County Council. Frank is also a Peace Commissioner.
Now he is preparing to go it alone on the election trail.
“The buck stops with me. It is a big task to take on but you know some people say that the Parties’ have well-oiled election machines. That is not the case a lot of the time.”
O’Donnell’s manifesto is going to include campaigning for a better local health service, tackling waiting lists and the Emergency Department crisis.
He also wants to see a 24-hour mental health service, along with more social housing and a big focus on giving a fair deal to families affected by the Defective Concrete Blocks scandal.
He will also be backing Donegal farmers whom he says have not been given the recognition they deserve for signing up to the Origin Green Sustainable Food Scheme in huge numbers.
A more affordable childcare service is also an issue where he wants to see action taken.
In Letterkenny the bridge across the Swilly to relieve traffic gridlock is a must says O’Donnell adding that whatever obstacles are there must be removed to get on the job.
He has already been lobbied on this matter by members of the local business community and the Chamber of Commerce.
“I am a very approachable person and anyone who shares my views is welcome to join the campaign team. Community activism has been a big part of my life so I am ready as I can be for the challenge that is ahead of me. I am happy with the support that I have so far. We’ll just take it day by day now and whenever the election is called I will be ready,” O’Donnell concluded.
