Girls Just Wanna Have Fundamental Change

In many respects, previous generations could certainly argue that, around here, we’ve never really had it so good.

There are public amenities aplenty (and a-growin’), the town’s economic health would appear to be glowing, and Greystones is constantly held up as a fine example of a modern, thriving Irish town.

On the other hand, the traffic is arse, public transport is still stuck on a one-track mind, there’s a shocking lack of school places, we have an IDA site that’s been lying idle for 25 years, and, just to add insult to injustice, new housing estates are being approved almost monthly without any consideration to all or even any of the above.

So, stepping into the political arena right now would seem something of a lo-brainer. You can, of course, chase the popular vote by going down the backseat driver route of shouting about the traffic, the schools, the buses, the potholes, the dog poo, the harbour, the housing and how taxi drivers around here are all too willing to go that extra mile. Or you can try and actually do something about it.

It would appear that Jennifer Whitmore and Jodie Neary belong firmly in the second camp, and they’re both about to embark in new roles that might just give them a chance to put their politics to the test. Thanks to the recent general election, Whitmore has made the leap from councillor to TD whilst her fellow Social Democrat Jodie Neary is this afternoon being voted in to her colleague’s Greystones Municipal District Council seat.

Given the day that’s in it, we grabbed 15 minutes with the two sisters in alms this morning, to find out more about their dreams and schemes, and how soon do they expect reality to kick back…

If you’re drawn to the dark purple side, you can find out more about the Social Democrats right about here.