Speakers’ Corner: Aaron McAllorum

Aaron McAllorum MAY24

ith the local elections set for Friday, June 7th, we have once again sent out our Speakers’ Corner questionnaire to the local wide-eyed hopefuls.

Starting with the 11 candidates running in the Greystones Electoral Area, we’ll then open the floor to the other 4,659 upstanding Wicklow citizens currently stepping into the ring for 2024.

Up for grabs, 32 councillor seats across this great county of ours, with all the hopes and dreams – plus prestige, pressure, resentment, ridicule and mediocre pay – that such an exalted position entails.

Suffice to say, there are plenty of candidates to choose from, from the strong, silent types who simply, quietly get on with their work in the community to the loud, social media-shagging self-promoters who seem to leave little time for any actual graft. We’ve been reporting on this town daily for 12 years now, and the one thing we’ve become very, very wary of is the black arts of stolen valour. Feckers sticking their flag in other people’s hard work by racing to share the good news first on Facebook, Instagram and beyond, slyly hoovering up all the likes, thanks and praise in the process.

It’s akin to waiting at the finish line and throwing your arm around the winner for a quick selfie, owning their victory online before they’ve even had time to catch their breath.

So, whatever your party loyalties and your political leanings, it’s worth taking a moment to look beyond the glitter. These people will be your eyes and ears – and big mouth – down in Wicklow County Council, after all.

With Catherine Murphy TD

In the meantime, on with Speakers Corner 2024, and Bray’s Aaron McAllorum, the Social Democrat’s quiet man. But first, a quick bio…

Aaron McAllorum is the parliamentary assistant to the former co-leader and co-founder of the Social Democrats, Catherine Murphy TD, and has been working with the party and Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore since its very early stages.

Aaron has almost 20 years of experience on the civil and political side of public service in Dail Eireann.

With Jennifer Whitmore TD and MEP candidate Susan Doyle

A former civil servant, Aaron moved to the political side where he now advises on and augments the work of Deputy Murphy in parliament and on the Public Accounts Committee, the public spending watchdog which scrutinise the audited State accounts by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Aaron is originally from Blanchardstown and attended Gaelscoil Colaiste Mhuire in Dublin’s North Inner City, where he spent most of his school and sporting years with Belvedere Football Club.

And now, those head-scratching, heartbreaking and – one day, Elvis willing – historic GG questions…

What inspired you to become involved in local politics? Was there a Road To District Council moment…?
Not particularly, I am just frustrated at the apparent unwillingness at local government level for the executive to listen to and act on concerns and the requests of citizens. For years as an ordinary fella, I have been onto my own municipal on behalf of neighbours, friends and business folks in the town to get XYZ done, and all you’re met with is resistance. I plan on changing that.

Day to day, for work I am already helping three colleagues in Kildare with their council work, and I feel it is now time for me to step up the plate and personally deliver for Wicklow.

Of your work so far, are there particular achievements that you are particularly proud of?
On a national level, the work I have done with Catherine Murphy TD and the Public Account Committee in the Dáil in relation to the Football Association of Ireland and RTE are standout. We spent countless hours pouring over financial statements, consultant reports and mountains of correspondence in an effort to straighten out very serious failures in corporate governance. That takes real fortitude and patience.

Looking forward, what are the main goals that you would like to achieve over the coming years?
Like any councillor, you just want what is best for your community. If I get one shot at a term, my work will have long-lasting value. Sticking plasters don’t solve problems.

With Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns and Blessington candidate Dee McCormack

As Bray expands and areas around it grow, pressure will mount on public services, infrastructure. Sustainable communities, service provision and mobility locally will be the areas I want to focus on.

To turn a fine Mayor Quimby quote into a question, ask not what you can do for your county, but what you can do for your county…?
Commit myself to doing everything that I can to keep it as one of Ireland’s best counties to live in.

If being a politician doesn’t work out, have you got a Career B in mind? Dancer? Magician? Traffic warden…?
Something that keeps me engaged with people and helping others.

Finally, Trump of Biden?
America should have just given Bernie Sanders a go at it in the first instance…

You can find out more about Aaron McAllorum here, and follow on Instagram here or X here. You can also get in touch directly on email here, and contribute to his campaign here.