How did Tipperary Local Elections candidate Michael 'Chicken' Brennan get his nickname?

Q. Michael ‘Chicken’ Brennan, thank you for entering ‘The No-Spin Zone’. Can you tell the voters briefly about yourself?
A. It’s great to be here Cara. So, I’m Michael ‘Chicken’ Brennan and I’m married to Helen, who’s from Fethard and together we run a small hospitality business in Clonacody House. I have twin daughters Ciara & Michelle who are now 24 years old and living with us at Clonacody.

Q. Twins, oh wow! Did you know ye were having twins beforehand?
A. I did know that there would be twins and the Doctor said that the first one to arrive, which was Ciara, would be the stronger-willed of the two and that is the case today. They’re incredible but typical daughters – before I came here, they were rowing over going shopping! And if I take sides, they end up sticking together!

Q. What’s your political experience to date?
A. Well Cara, I’m a first-time candidate in the Carrick On Suir LEA, running for the Labour Party. My political experience comes from seeing my uncle Ned Brennan elected seven times for Labour in seven consecutive Council elections in the same LEA. He never topped the poll but came in a steady second every time. He was Chairman of the Council twice, in 1975 and in 1983. We grew up seeing how hard he worked for the people in his area irrespective of their political allegiance. His door was always open and I don’t think I ever remember his front room, which was his office, being empty as there was always someone in there getting help and assistance.

Q. What are the biggest issues coming up on the doorsteps right now in the Carrick on Suir/Fethard LEA?
A. Definitely Housing, Health, Roads and Immigration.

Q. We might talk about the Labour Party first. I’ve heard voters say that “I’ll never trust Labour again after trying to bring in Water Charges a decade ago.” How will you address that on the doorsteps?
A. Water Charges were kind of forced on Labour, and they carried the can for that at the time. Ultimately the charges weren’t implemented. I will ask people to look at me as a candidate for the future and to give me a chance to prove that I will do my very best to represent them.

Q. Everywhere I go, people say that Irish Water is a total disaster. Most want the Council back in charge of Water. Where do you stand on that?
A. The infrastructure of Irish Water isn’t working. I believe that the management of water supply should be handed back to the Council. The biggest thing I hear on the doorsteps is that it is next to impossible to make contact with someone in Irish Water, who can take action efficiently to resolve the problem. These problems range from low water pressure due to leaks, to random non supply, to people with absolutely no water during the day and taking showers etc, at 1am in the morning. It’s no longer acceptable. People just want someone to be accountable and effective with their issue. Therefore, I will be pushing for the Council to take back control of the supply of water to all the residents if I get elected in June.

Q. Is Housing a national crisis, and what will you do about it if elected?
A. It is a national crisis Cara. We have homeless people, and then people who just can’t get houses. I’ve met so many people on the canvass who are affected by this. Maybe they have a son or daughter who can’t leave home and get on with their lives. There might be a boyfriend or girlfriend living with them as well, they’re cramped, stress levels are high. We need more social housing and more affordable housing. Housing will be a big thing on my list if elected in June.

Q. To Policing. The number of Gardai in Carrick-on-Suir has reduced by 66% over the last few years. Is this acceptable, and what will you do about it if elected?
A. There’s a big lack of visibility of policing in our areas. When I was growing up, we had Guards in Ballinure, Killenaule and Ballingarry. There was a big Garda presence. Now the population has increased and the Garda presence has declined with anti-social behaviour and open drug dealing on the rise. Teenagers are vulnerable to the drug pushers and bullies that ultimately lead them down a path of misery. We need more police. Visibility is key. If I get elected I will be fighting for more recruits and 100% increase in police patrolling through our towns, villages and rural areas.

Q. Is Speeding an issue in your LEA?
A. It is Cara. That’s also coming up on the doorsteps. Obviously more Garda visibility would help. But I do think that the Council have a role here in terms of engineering, be it speed ramps, traffic warning signs, and speed cameras. If elected, I’ll be pushing for measures that will reduce speed in our areas because it really is causing people serious concern.

Q. You’re aware that I campaign vigorously for special needs children and those with disabilities. 20,000 children are rotting on HSE waiting lists, with Co. Tipperary among the worst in the Country. What will you do about it if elected?
A. I’ve met so many families about this issue and there’s a lot of frustration and anger out there among parents and families. The waiting lists aren’t acceptable Cara. The lack of engagement with the HSE isn’t helping. I will advocate for serious improvements if elected. The Labour Party has always supported you 100% in your advocacy campaign, and we’ll be supporting you when you meet the new Taoiseach very soon. Also, I’ll definitely accompany you to Leinster House on one of your upcoming visits there. We need to get this issue sorted.

Q. Immigration continues to be one of the main headline news issues in this Country. Where do you and Labour stand on this issue?
A. We do have an international obligation as we are a party to the Geneva convention to take in refugees. I’d like to think that if we as a Country were ever in a situation that we had to flee Ireland, that we would be accepted and welcomed into whatever Country that would take us. So that’s something we should all think about. The bottom line is we should only take refugees/asylum seekers that we can look after and integrate. Most of these people have suffered enough and seeing the mismanagement of their arrival into Ireland with some of them now living in tents is not acceptable.
Having said that, we do need to ensure that our admissions system is fit-for-purpose and that those coming in are doing so in a proper and legal way.
Furthermore, the department needs to engage or communicate with the towns, villages and communities that they plan moving refugees into. They need to make sure that the infrastructure is there to integrate into the community and its services. i.e. GPs, Schools, access to transport, English classes, jobs, sports, mental health services, counselling etc.

Q. When chatting before we started the interview, you spoke about the dereliction in Killenaule & Fethard specifically. Can you tell me more about that?
A. I can Cara. Let’s take Fethard first – the Town Park is fantastic, but you could walk from one end of the Town to the other and there are no shops in between. In Killenaule, we have 28 derelict houses. We need to see more Council investment in these towns, similar to what’s occurred in Cahir and other places. Dereliction is a serious issue of concern to residents, and I’ll campaign vigorously for regeneration if elected.

Q. Tell us something amusing about yourself?
A. Ok Cara, you wanted to know where my nickname comes from so I’ll let you in on that. Everyone knows me as ‘Chicken’ Brennan, I have that nickname since I was 4 years old. We grew up in Killenaule, and my first cousin, also called Michael Brennan, was called Foxy Chicken because they used to keep turkeys. So, to distinguish the two of us, he was called Foxy Chicken and I was called Chicken. To this day, I still have the name ‘Chicken’ Brennan. So Cara, my name on the ballot paper this June will actually be Michael ‘Chicken’ Brennan. So that’s a story for you now!

Q. That’s amazing! Finally, why should people vote for Michael ‘Chicken’ Brennan in June?
A. I will be a full-time, not part-time representative. I will not make promises I can’t keep, but what I do promise to the people in my LEA is, you show me or tell/ask me to help or do something to make your life better and I will give 100% to get it done! It seems fitting Cara that your show is the No Spin Zone - well I’m a No Spin Candidate and my mantra is ‘Let’s Get Things Done!’