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Labour Party Conference Long Service Awards for Roscrea Members

At the Labour Party conference in Mullingar at the weekend, local Roscrea members Johnny and Mary Ryan from Kennedy Park along with Mick Shanahan from Assumption Park were presented with ‘Long Service Awards’ for their many decades of service to the party.

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I was delighted to present Johnny, Mary and Mick with their awards as Deputy Leader of the party.

The following is the few words that I said about my good friends on the night.

‘I am extremely proud to make the following awards to three members without whose support I would not be standing here in front of you tonight. I’ll begin with a fantastic husband and wife team, Johnny and Mary Ryan from Roscrea.

Johnny Ryan’s father was a great Labour man. On one occasion when Johnny’s father could not make a Labour meeting being held in the Abbey Hall in Roscrea he asked Johnny to represent him. At the age of 17, that was the start of Johnny’s interest in Labour politics.

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Johnny has canvassed with John Ryan TD, Tommy Shanahan, Kathleen O’ Meara and myself. Every local, general and European election, Johnny will give his time to canvassing on behalf of Labour candidates.

Johnny worked hard in Glanbia for over 40 years and as a union rep he always represented his co-workers to the best of his ability to improve their working conditions.

Johnny is a great Tipperary man and his wife Mary a great Tipperary woman.

Mary hails from Paddy Tierney’s country – Coolbawn in the Parish of Kilbarron. Mary and the Corbett Family had an early interest in Labour politics.

They all worked extremely hard for Paddy and were well known in the parish for their work ethic and their Labour beliefs. They were supported in this by their lovely mother Gretta.
Paddy Tierney was very popular in the parish, a great neighbour, and the Corbetts, their neighbours the Coens, the Flemings, Wilsie Nolan, Michael Gleeson and the Barry family – my grandmother’s people – had great friendships with Paddy and all gave him tremendous support over the years.

Mary and Johnny married in 1971 and for the past 45 years they have worked together to promote the Labour movement in Roscrea.

Upon being told he was to be presented with this award, Johnny said
“I should be presented with a new pair of shoes along with the award for all the shoe leather I went through over the years canvassing “.

The other Roscrea recipient of tonight’s awards is the one and only Mick Shanahan.

Mick was born and reared in Roscrea and is steeped in the Labour tradition.

Mick got his love of politics from his Father Tommy Shanahan who represented the people of Roscrea for many years as a Labour Councillor.

Back in those days when people were singing showband hits in their homes the Shanahanswere singing James Connolly and Joe Hill.

Mick’s Father canvassed for Paddy Tierney TD and on one visit to the family home Paddy Tierney TD insisted on buying the child of the house a new pair of shoes – and so Micks canvassing career began.

Mick campaigned for his father Tommy Shanahan, Kathleen O’Meara and for me.

At the ripe young age of 66 he is still canvassing and putting in the hours on behalf of our great party and our local organisation in Tipperary.

He is loyal to bone to the Labour Party.

When you walk into Mick’s house, you see a framed picture of James Connolly in front of you with a sticker on it of Alan Kelly, telling you to vote No 1.

I look forward to spending more time with Mick in the days and weeks ahead – but before that, I am extremely proud to make this award tonight to a truly great Labour man.