Mayshowcase10

I first became interested in politics when I was in first year and joined the
Student Council. I was one of the first 1st years to join the Council, which made
me feel a little proud. It was in 2nd year that my interest got bigger and I was
taking part in debates about government issues.

When I was in 2nd year the general elections were just starting and political
parties were out in their numbers. I did research into each political party and one,
in particular, stood out: the Progressive Democrats. I liked their policies and
they seemed to be an honest party. I remember that summer it was great I was
out everyday as soon as school was finished. I would walk round to the office and get ready.

There is one day that will always stand out for me, the day I met the leader of the
party, Mary Harney. I didn't know that she was going to be coming out with us and
a sense of shock came over me when she got out of her ministerial car and I
was the first person she greeted. I was extremely nervous because of the office
she held at the time - Minister for Health and Children - and also the fact she was
the leader of the party. She decided to stick by me for the entire day's work, and
every chance we got we would talk about the important things like health reform
and cancer care. That night the minister went to every single house in the village
from Woodford in. It took us from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock. After the election we
planned a victory party n her honour but with life throwing a curve ball. it was
cancelled due to the death of Sarah Harney. (The minister's mother).

So a few months passed before anything happened then in September
I got a letter from Head Quarters saying that there would be a meeting in
September and that I would have to go to it. So I went and was a little nervous
because of the wording of the letter and then she walked in came over and
thanked me for my hard work. During the meeting we were having elections to
the board of officers for the national party and Mary Harney herself nominated
me for a senior position on the national council. Needless to say I was
speechless. It was a great honour but, as with all titles, comes responsibility
like attending weekly meetings and, of course, talking to local people. Everything
was good until the end of 2007 and the start of 2008 when the P.D's decided to
end the party. It was hard as it was my first and I really enjoyed doing something,
unlike most young people in my area.

It wasn't long before began my research again and I found a party, Fianna Fail,
with the help of a friend of mine, Trevor Gilligan, a past pupil of Moyle Park,
who was running in the local elections to get another term in office. Doing that
canvassing reminded me of better days and I was hopeful that this time it would
work out because the party I was with was popular at the time and was in power.
But after a year things got bad with the arrival of a recession. Fianna Fail had a
lot of questions that needed to be answered. I remained in the party for a bit
longer in the hope that the questions would be answered.

One of the biggest events of the year in the Fianna Fail calendar is the National
Youth Conference, so I decided that I would go and have a one to one with some
of the senior party members. It was hard getting to it as there is no rail link in
Donegal so a four hour bus journey and than a five hour wait for the conference
to start. I had a list of questions prepared for each minister and was determined
to get answers but the ministers were not having any of it. If they couldn't answer
the questions to the members of Fianna Fail then they would never answer the
questions of the people of Ireland. This made me detest the very party I defended;
the people that were there to represent the people of Ireland only represented
greed and corruption. So I decided to leave Fianna Fail and seek out a new party
that actually represents the people that are on the side of the worker and
the students.

Before I got the chance to get in touch with them they already sent me out a
membership application. So here I am about to join Fine Gael, about to fight
the very people and the very government I defended and I have no regrets and
I will not look back. At the moment I am an elected member of South Dublin County
Council youth wing (Comhairle na nOg) the vice chairperson (soon to be chairperson)
of the Students Council. A well-known youth activist known by every TD, Senator and
every councillor in my area 'a fresh face for politics'. Looking back at everything
I have done I do not regret any of it, from going door to door come election time to
meeting the leaders of Ireland. It has shaped me into what I am; it has shown me
my potential as an election manager and soon a candidate in an election. I
known which banner I will run under and where it will lead me.

So in five to ten years I will be a TD in the Dail, hopefully I will be a minister in
some shape or form. Unlike the current government I will do some good for Ireland
and indeed the world so remember the name as I could be your local TD.

Christopher O'Dwyer 5th Year