Marianne Butler
Councillors must be willing, and able, to fight for the economic and social development of our communities, to support local businesses to continue creating jobs, to rejuvenate our towns and villages, and work to ensure the wellbeing of our community.
I believe local decisions must be based on facts, take a long-term perspective, and be driven by more than short-term populism
Children: we need our children to have safe places to play, high quality education and training, and secure and affordable housing.
Strong communities: Councillors have a duty to strengthen what we have in common and reinforce what unites us as a community. Councillors must build cohesion and solidarity rather than sow division.
Long-term thinking: our children and young people can have a bright, sustainable and prosperous future. But only if local decisions are based on facts, take a long-term perspective, and are driven by more than short-term populism.
Experience
Raised in Quay Street I now live on the Avenue Road with my family. Educated at Castletown Girl's NS, St. Louis, and Trinity College Dublin where I studied Business. Before entering politics I was a bank official and I'm also a Qualified Financial Advisor.
I was first elected to Dundalk Town Council in 2009 and subsequently co-opted to Louth County Council in 2010. I have been Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Town Council and leas-Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council. I am deeply committed to education and have served as a member of the Governing Body of DKIT and as a member of the Louth Meath Education and Training Board, where I also chaired the Youth Work Committee. In addition, for the last five years I have been on the board of Creative Spark during the delivery of it's Enterprise FabLab and Downtown Hub, and the Board of Dundalk Business Improvement District (BIDs), helping to promote the economic and cultural life of Dundalk.
