Garrison farmer Martin McGovern will replace the outgoing Frankie Rice
THE first new name on the Sinn Fein candidate list for the merged Omagh/Fermanagh council has been co-opted in place of current Erne West councillor, Frankie Rice.
That is Garrison farmer, Martin McGovern.
The 46-year-old father of one has been a member of Sinn Fein for 25 years and is a past pupil of St Michael’s College.
“I would have been in my early twenties and I was always passionate about politics and at that stage the dream of a united Ireland. Through the rise of Sinn Fein it’s nice to be part of the process of actually making it happen,” Mr McGovern said this week, reflecting on his decision to join the party initially.
“What appeals to me is the old saying from Wolf Tone, the unity of Catholic, Protestant, and dissenter, I would like to see more Protestant people involved in republican ideals and hopefully through the peace process we’re heading in that direction.”
Mr McGovern believes he has the credentials to represent west Fermanagh.
“I’m well-known in the Belcoo, Derrygonnelly, Boho, Garrison areas and I’ve been gifted with good interpersonal skills which I use to the benefit of myself and people in the community where I make representations.
“I think there’s a sort of disconnect with more senior politicians and it’s habitual to bash politicians like we bash the weather here all the time, but I don’t think that transcends down to the local level because people know their local councillor as an individual, and they know their family and the know the workrate and have trust and faith in them.
“For someone like myself it’s grass roots, it’s working with the community – their issues are my issues. I’m quite aware of making the community tick. It’s the good relationships between the communities, the sense of care of the elderly and protecting what is good and vital in the area.”
And he went on to describe the issues that he feels are affecting the area.
“There are a number of local issues, like education and farming, but also fracking.
“Most people in the community are opposed to it, it’s not that they’re opposed to progress, but they’re opposed to the hydraulic fracturing, given the health concerns and it is far from proven to be safe.”
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