Better supports for carers and people with autism among new Tipperary Senator's priorities

South Tipperary’s new Senator Imelda Goldsboro has made fighting for better supports and services for carers, people with autism and rural communities her top priorities over the next five years representing the constituency in Leinster House.

The Ballingarry woman joined Fine Gael Senator Garret Ahearn as south Tipperary’s second representative in the Oireachtas’ upper house last Friday when Taoiseach Micheál Martin included her among his 11 nominees to the Seanad.

She was one of six Fianna Fáil Seanad nominees and one of seven women politicians brought into the Seanad through the Taoiseach’s nominations.

Senator Goldsboro said it was an absolutely brilliant end to a very busy year that began with canvassing for Local Elections last February, a poll-topping performance in Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District race in June, followed by the General Election in November where she lost the battle for the third seat in Tipperary South to Independent Seamus Healy in the final count.

She went on to contest the Agricultural Panel race in the Seanad election that concluded last week.
Senator Goldsboro said she was delighted to receive the phone call from the Taoiseach last Friday evening informing her of her nomination to the Seanad.

“There was great excitement and it was very emotional as I was leaving Tipperary County Council after 11 years. I have always had aspirations to get to Dáil Éireann and this is a step in the right direction.”

She sees becoming a Senator as a great opportunity to meet and lobby ministers and be a strong voice for the people of south Tipperary in Leinster House. Senator Goldsboro says her main priorities will be to fight for better supports for families of children with autism and better respite services for family carers. She will also be focussed on securing more services, infrastructure and facilities for rural villages.

Her elevation to the Oireachtas’ upper house is a significant boost for the Fianna Fáil Party in Tipperary South. The party’s last south Tipperary representative in the Oireachtas was Labhrás Ó’Murchú, who served as a Senator for 19 years up to 2016.

Senator Goldsboro’s former Tipperary County Council colleagues congratulated her at their February meeting in Clonmel on Monday.

The council’s Cathaoirleach Cllr Declan Burgess, who also ran in the Seanad election, wished Senator Goldsboro well in her new role and said it was a “very proud moment” for her, her community and family.

Cllr Michael Smith, on behalf of the Fianna Fáil party, said it was a special time for Senator Goldsboro, her family and his party. Both Cllr Smith and fellow FF Cllr Sean Ryan, who was her General Election campaign manager, paid tribute to her hard work as a public representative.

Mayor of Clonmel Cllr Pat English also praised the new senator as a hard worker and he was sure the people of south Tipperary will be well served by her in the Seanad.

Fine Gael Cllr Marie Murphy in her message of congratulations said Senator Goldsboro had a tough job ahead but she was well capable of doing it while Cllr Annemarie Ryan congratulated her on behalf of the Sinn Féin party.

Independent Cllr Andy Moloney said the Seanad election was one of the toughest campaigns and securing this nomination was just reward for her efforts and poll-topping performances during her time on Tipperary County Council.

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