The March4Tipp group recently announced the intention to run three candidates in the forthcoming Council elections. Following the announcement that Annemarie Ryan will run, they have now announced their second candidate.
The Group said it is delighted to nominate Lisa McGrath as one of its three candidates to contest the election, which takes place on 24 May. Lisa has been an active member of March4Tipp and was motivated by the issues the campaign was fighting for.
She said "I have lived in Tipperary all of my life. With the exception of a couple of dalliances with other counties in Ireland I have always considered Tipperary the love of my life. I have always been proud of my town but troubled at the neglect it has suffered over the years. I remember a time when we were lucky enough to have opportunities for work in Tipperary. My dad and uncle worked in Atari, I had uncles and cousins working in Kiely’s and Pall and before Pall, Tambrands. Now the only option our families have is to leave our town and even worse, our country for work".
With extensive experience working with young people, Lisa says she is acutely aware of the problems our town faces. "As a youth worker, I have seen first-hand how the mistreatment of our town, by countless governments, has affected the young people in our community. One of the effects of the cycle of poverty, which continues to grow in many parts of our town, is that our young people have very low aspirations and any they have, well there are even fewer opportunities available. The most important and powerful aspects of being a young person are your dreams and your imagination. If we use our imagination and think outside the box we can change how our young people grow up in this town. We can help our young people realise their dreams".
"We can help our young people realise their dreams"
"I have been involved in March4Tipp since the beginning and I was excited at the prospect of getting involved in a campaign that’s aim was to help my town. I had up until then, like many, sat around various kitchen tables bemoaning our town’s fate. Joining March4Tipp I felt I could do something and now I feel it is only right that I do something more".
"It is not fair to criticise from the side-lines if you are not willing to put yourself out there. We, as a group, have been so vocal about actions meaning more than words. And now I feel it is time to live up to that. I was very proud to march with the thousands of citizens looking for change in October. I would be very honoured to be chosen to represent those same citizens as we try to bring about positive changes that will benefit Tipperary and its citizens".
I am a member of the Murphy/Martin families who hail from the New Road, Tipp. I am mother to three boys, Ethan (22), Adam (21) and Jack (19).
Lisa has been a youth worker with Youth Work Ireland, Tipperary for 15 years. She has also been involved in drama for 25 years with Goldstar Cabarets in Aherlow, Golden drama and more recently with Jim Keane’s well received play, A Living Will. Lisa also teaches drama in the Marion Hall with Star Stage School.
March4Tipp will be announcing its third candidate shortly. The Group believes that there is a strong mood for change in the way in which the community is represented on the Council and hopes that people will make that change by voting for their independent community-based candidates.
March4Tipp is a non-political group.
