Alan Mangan selected as Labour Party candidate for Longford Westmeath

Alan Mangan has been selected to contest the next general election as the Labour Party candidate in Longford Westmeath.

At the convention in the Mullingar Park Hotel, he said health, housing, jobs and IDA investment, and broadband are some of his key issues.

Mr Mangan said:

“It’s a huge honour for me to be selected here tonight to fly the flag for Labour in the next general election in Longford Westmeath.

I’ve got big shoes to fill, but anyone who knows me, knows I don’t shy away from a challenge.

Willie Penrose has represented us proudly for over 25 years

Many a time they wrote him off, but he always stayed true to core Labour values.

It was touch and go the last time, but those decades of service to the people stood by him, and returned him to the Dail in 2016.

But time rolls on, and I’m ready now to pull on the Labour jersey and ensure we hold the seat in the next election whenever it comes.

I’m reliably informed I have deep Labour roots, and that my great grandfather Patrick Clark was a Cllr back in the forties.

His claim to fame was getting thrown out of the Greville Arms when Eamon De Velara was attending a meeting.

I can’t make the same promise, but I will certainly be fighting for the people of Longford Westmeath.

I want to thank all you for coming here tonight

It means an awful lot for me and Corine, to have family, friends, and Labour members who have fought hard with Willie over many years.

I want to thank in particular my proposer and seconder for nominating me to run for the Labour Party.

You all know me, and many have soldiered with me on the playing fields. When I take on a challenge, I have only one goal in mind, and that’s to win.

Our county, and Longford face big challenges.

Too often, we are the forgotten Midlands, the places that you drive through on the way to somewhere else.

As a frontline HSE worker in addiction, I know the pressure our health service is under.

I know the pressures carers are under, the strain on our hospitals, and lack of nurses and doctors, and failure to care for our people.

As a father and husband, I know the stresses young families face, and what it takes to raise a family.

I look at our town, and I think what we could achieve if we got the investment, if we got the jobs, if we had good broadband, and the chance to promote our areas.

If only the IDA took us seriously, if only a local business could get the support it needs to sell itself to the world.

There are too many people without a home, too many people worried if they’ll have enough work, and enough left over to pay the bills.

Too many people who need someone in Dublin to fight for them. I want to be their voice.

As a proud GAA man, I know the importance of building a strong team, and leading on the pitch, working together, putting in long days and nights training

That’s why the work starts now, tonight. Whenever the Election Day comes we’ll be collecting votes

From tonight we have to start winning votes, putting points over the bar, and goals in the net.

There’ll be no glory hunting, just solid work, speaking to our friends, family, neighbours, and work colleagues.

Asking them to commit to giving Budda Mangan a No. 1 vote at the next election.

Now is when we start working, I promise you in the weeks and months ahead I’ll be doing the work.

But I need your help.

You will be my team mates.

It’s up to us to continue the proud Penrose tradition.

Nothing else will do.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Alan ‘Budda’ Mangan – the new Labour Candidate for Longford-Westmeath

• 39, from Castletown Geoghegan, Co. Westmeath.
• Married with three young children.
• A community based health worker dealing with vulnerable people (in the Community Alcohol and Drugs Service).
• Actively involved in LGFA & GAA community at all levels.
• Represented Westmeath at both senior football and hurling.
• Member of Westmeath football team that won Leinster SFC title, 2004.
• In 2011 joint manager of Westmeath women team that won All Ireland intermediate title.
• A selector with the Westmeath senior hurling team.
• Won all Ireland u-21 medal in 1999
• Won two Railway Cup medals with Leinster in 2005 and 2006