Popular local Tipperary Councillor to step aside from elections after 15 years of service

Independent Tipperary TD, Deputy Michael Lowry has confirmed that Lowry Team member, Councillor John ‘Rocky’ McGrath will not be contesting the local elections in June due to health reasons.

The Newport area Councillor who was first elected in 2009, has been credited with delivering on many local issues during his time as a public representative, but in particular in the areas of planning, local roads and enhancement of villages.

Councillor McGrath said that he is “very proud of my achievements as a public representative and I have to express my grateful appreciation to Deputy Michael Lowry for affording me the opportunity to be a member of his Team. It has been a real source of pride and enlightenment to me to work alongside Michael and his team. I thank the office staff in Abbey Road for their tremendous support at all times,”

Rocky added: “That the time has come for me to step away and as many will know, I have had a number of health issues which make it impossible for me to canvass and get through the volume of engagement required for an Election campaign. While I have decided to step off the pitch I will do my very best to support my successor on the Lowry Team”.

Deputy Lowry paid tribute to his team member describing him as “an invaluable member of the team and a great friend.”
“Rocky has been an excellent local representative who always had the best interests of his constituents and the community at the forefront.

"He would passionately and resolutely defend his locality and was always seeking to progress and enhance communities. He has been a great personal friend to me and the other members of the Team and though he is not standing in the local elections in June, we look forward to continuing having him on board with us in many other ways.

“I congratulate Rocky on his great contribution to his community and thank Mary, Shane, Donnacha, Cormac, Darragh and the extended McGrath family also for their unstinting support and loyalty to Rocky, to me personally and to the Team.

Councillor McGrath has also served on Tipperary VEC; Tipperary Joint Policing Committee; County Tipperary Library Board; North Tipp GAA Chairman, Munster GAA Councils Appeals Committee; and many other local committees including the Mulcair and Kilmastulla River groups.