Councillor Paddy Kilduff - A life for politics.

Follow this link for Paddy's successful 2009 Campaign in South Roscommon.

Newspaper advertisement for the 2004 Local Election from The Roscommon Champion.

Sticker (above) and badge (below) possibly from the 1999 campaign.

Leaflet from 2004.

Images not to scale.

Paddy Kilduff attended Glanduff National School and was taught there by Hugh Feeley, principal. It is recorded in the family history that Paddy, like a lot of his contemporaries, was not very fond of school! In 1962 Paddy left school and after a short period training to be a plumber, he decided that he was better suited to plastering and it was as a plasterer that he travelled the country to learn his trade.

In 1972 Paddy married Teresa (nee Garvey) and, if that big decision wasn't enough, he also decided that year to go out on his own in business and he founded Paddy Kilduff Builders, and later Lecarrow Precast. In this role he was responsible for building many of the houses around South Roscommon and much further afield. Paddy & Teresa have four children, David, Lucy, Donal & Patrick.

Politics for Paddy started early. As a youth he decided to abstain from alcohol and he joined the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association (PTAA). Paddy eventually rose to become National Vice-Chairman. On the way he was President of the Connacht Council, President of Roscommon / Athlone Region and President of Knockcroghery Centre and he gave a lot of his time, and money, to supporting the various activities that the PTAA organise, especially the annual READÓIRÍ cultural competitions.

He has always been an active member of the local community and, amongst other things, has been treasurer of Lecarrow Development Committee, secretary of St. John's Community Centre, Chairman of the local Community Alert Association, Vice Chairman of St. John's Parish Heritage Group and Vice Chairman of Cumhdach Óige Roscomáin. Paddy Kilduff has been a generous sponsor of the South Roscommon Singers Festival since its inception.

In politics, as in life, Paddy wasn't one to stand aside and let others do the work. He joined the Fianna Fáil party at an early age. For over 25 years he was Secretary of the Glanduff Cumann of the Party, for 20 years Chairman of Mid Roscommon Fianna Fáil Comhairle Ceanntair, for 15 years Chairman of Dáil Ceanntair Roscommon and Constituency Delegate to the National Executive of Fianna Fáil. Is it any wonder then, that he should eventually seek a nomination to run for local political office. After a couple of trial runs, in 1999 he got 10.36% of the vote, Paddy Kilduff was elected to the Mid Roscommon Constituency on Roscommon County Council in 2004 after a memorable election campaign that included the slogans "Push Paddy's Button" and "Write 1 for the job".

A newspaper advertisement from The Roscommon Champion to "Push Paddy's Button" when it seemed that electronic voting would be used, and his change to "Write 1 for the job" after the Government decided not to go ahead with electronic voting after all.

Voting paper entry for Paddy Kilduff of Fianna Fáil in 2004 Local Elections. Many people "wrote 1" here!

Paddy Kilduff's political career was seriously impaired when his constituency was split in two in 2008 but, not one to lie down under adversity, Paddy threw his hat into the Athlone Constituency ring for the local elections in 2009. After a momentous campaign and against all the odds, Paddy Kilduff was re-elected to Roscommon County Council, taking the fifth of the six seats available.

Our thanks to the Kilduff Family for the information above. If anyone has any further material relating to Councillor Paddy Kilduff please contact us.