1000 text messages received

1000 text messages and not a ‘congrats’ card left in Ballina


Anna Marie Flynn

THIRTY years ago when Deputy Sean Calleary was promoted to Junior Minister in the Department of Public Service, people were still talking about the Pope’s visit two months earlier; the country was coming to terms with the worst year ever for Irish industrial disputes; petrol shortages were rife; Jack Lynch announced his resignation as Taoiseach heralding a new leader in the form of Charles J. Haughey - and text messages were never even heard of.
Three decades later, Sean’s son, the then six-year-old Dara Calleary, has gone through the ranks of politics himself and is celebrating a similar honour. Just as his father, and to an extent his grandfather before him, he is also facing somewhat similar issues in terms of industrial disputes, an economy in decline, and a tumultuous change in leadership at the top table of the Fianna Fail party. In addition, the world of technology has fast-forwarded and Deputy Calleary, upon his promotion was inundated with almost 1000 text messages.
“By Wednesday evening my mobile phone had literally frozen. It is amazing to consider all those people taking the time out to congratulate me, send me well wishes or in some cases, advice. It is something I will never forget.”
The Pearse Street office, which is home to Deputy Calleary since his election to the Dáil in 2007, is awash with greeting cards. “I can’t begin to thank everyone who wrote to me, sent cards and telephoned the office. It really is unbelievable.”
With a rush of congratulations and good luck cards in the town on Thursday, hundreds braved the inclement weather to line the streets of towns across the county on Thursday night.
“It was lovely to see people taking to streets in Ballaghaderreen, Charlestown, Swinford, Foxford and then in Ballina where the Market Square homecoming went on to the Merry Monk on the Killala Road. I won’t forget it in a hurry” he said.
And while statements of good wishes came rolling in, it was the cross party support that really made an impression with the new Minister.
“I appreciate particularly the well wishes from Deputy Ring and from all the others who acknowledged the promotion. Thank you and now, the real work truly begins,” he concluded.