New Donegal Cathaoirleach speaks of her hopes and aims for year ahead

Councillor Rena Donaghey became only the third ever female Donegal mayor in the council’s history and the first ever female Fianna Fail mayor in the county at the Donegal County Council AGM on Wednesday.

She was joined by a number of her family members at the AGM for the occasion, which took place in the Aura Centre, Letterkenny and not the Council Chamber in Lifford due to social distancing restrictions.

Speaking to the Journal, Colr Donaghey said it was an ‘honour’ to be the first female Mayor of Donegal for her party.

She added while this was ‘historical,’ it also highlighted the need for better representation from woman on Donegal County Council.

In her address following her election, Colr Donaghey outlined how, in the 121 years of the history of Donegal County Council ‘only two’ women before her were ever Mayor or Cathaoirleach, despite the last census showing that in Donegal, there are 100 women to 99 men.

She added how each of the political parties, their representatives on the council and those seeking to represent in the future ‘must do more to achieve a better balance of representation when nominating candidates.’

She added that she was not being critical of the male councillors, but said the composition of men and women in the chamber ‘is significantly out of step with the population it represents.’

Colr Donaghey said she was aware that there are ‘barriers’ preventing women from joining the council and she hopes to ‘do something in my term of office to support women to put themselves forward for election.’ She told the Journal how the four current female councillors do not have an emblem to wear to represent the council, ‘while the males are supplied with ties and lapel pins.’ She said she would be speaking with the other three female councillors to organise ‘something similar’ for them which represents the council.

Colr Donaghey hopes to focus on a number of initiatives in her year in office, including the A5, the development of Fort Dunree, Buncrana Leisure Centre, the Three School Campus, the development of the new primary care centre, Greencastle Harbour and iCARE ‘to name just a few.’ She said she was ‘delighted’ work has begun on Swan Park.

She also highlighted the vital importance of broadband and spoke of how this has been highlighted during the Covid 19 crisis due to so many working from home and socialising online via apps such as Zoom. She said she intends, with the support of her council colleagues, to lobby the incoming government ‘whoever they are’ to deliver high speed broadband to rural Ireland. She told how the ‘need for broadband today is like the need for electricity in the 50s.’

“Children had difficulty doing their homework with poor lighting and they now have difficulty with poor broadband.”

She added how the development of digital hubs must be supported as they are one way of supporting the retention of skilled young people in rural communities.

Colr Donaghey also spoke of the difficult few months just passed, with Covid 19 and its ‘impact on our lives in a way that was unimaginable to us all four months ago as the majority of us witnessed our lives and livelihoods placed on pause.’ “We also watched and supported those on the frontline battle this most dangerous of viruses and keep essential services operating.’

Colr Donaghey remembered all those who battled the virus, as well as those who passed away and said her heart goes out to everyone who lost a loved one during the pandemic. “This is a time that will live on in our collective memories.”