One of those quiet people who tends to make pulling together international historical seminars and forging major bonds between countries whilst making it all look like he’s just putting together a quick afternoon game of chess down in the park, George Jones has long been an integral part of Greystones.
Long before he got The La Touche Legacy and The Irish-German Association of Wicklow pumping on all cylinders, George was busy getting involved. In history, in politics, in making Greystones a better place to live.
Long before he got The La Touche Legacy and The Irish-German Association of Wicklow pumping on all cylinders, George was busy getting involved. In history, in politics, in making Greystones a better place to live.And if you want to know just how resilient and determined this man is, it’s worth noting that he survived Fine Gael. In fact, reading Jones’ 2014 local elections statement, announcing his decision not to seek re-election, it’s pretty remarkable just how much this man has achieved.
The statement reads…
Ahead of a Fine Gael Convention for the Greystones Electoral Area on Monday 21st October, Cllr George Jones has confirmed that it’s not his intention to be a candidate in next year’s local elections.
Cllr Jones said, “In 2014, I would hope to complete 35 years ‘Serving Wicklow for the People of Wicklow’, and I feel it’s time to move on from local government politics and allow new candidates to serve the community. Since 1979, I have had the privilege to serve the Greystones Electoral area on Wicklow County Counil and from 1984, to serve on Greystones Town Council, I have been honoured by the voters of this area, who, in all local elections since 1979, have shown their confidence in me by re-electing me on each occasion.
“When I first stood for election in 1979, Greystones and the surrounding areas were totally forgotten by Wicklow County Council, and all other local agencies, and yet the area was showing huge growth in population.” George become the first Fine Gael Councillor since Dr Paddy Hickey (after whom our rugby club is named), a councillor in the 1940s.
During those years since 1979, said Cllr Jones, “I have been to the forefront of all campaigns to bring real change and improvements to the area, and I am delighted to be able to say, as I depart local government, that Greystones is now a very vibrant town with some of the best facilities in the country. The area surrounding Greystones has all shown growth, and has become a great place to live for the many thousands who have adopted this place as their home.”
Besides the vast improvements to the area, Cllr Jones stated that he felt particularly delighted with some key achievements, such as the extension of the DART, the sporting facilities – including the swimming pool – the establishment of a Town Council, and a commercial base for the town with the right mix of shops and businesses.
On The La Touche Legacy Committee and the partnership with Wurzburg, Germany, Mr Jones said, “In my work with Wurzburg, I was delighted to be awarded the Partnership Medal by the Lord Mayor and City Council of Wurzburg in 2010.”
Mr. Jones thanked the voters for showing great confidence in him since 1979, as well as his Fine Gael colleagues on both Greystones and Wicklow County Council for their support, praising the staff of both bodies for their assistance during the past 34 years. Finally, said Jones, he wanted to thank his wife, Joan, and their two children, Richard and Chris, for their loyal support and understanding during his long years in public life.
See what we mean? And the guy doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, with the Irish-German Association enjoying one of their busiest years ever (they’re off on a Cavan County Museum trip on 
the 20th), whilst this year’s La Touche Legacy & Festival of History will see such noted historians as Pat Cox and Professor Ronan Fanning coming to town in September. Add to that the many wonderful publications on Greystones history that the man has been behind, and, holy, we owe this man quite the debt.
And how can you not love a guy who’s steadily morphing into that huggable old rogue in Pixar’s Up…?
He may have come to us from Killincarrig via Kilcoole, but I reckon this George Jones lad is a definite keeper…
You can find out more about The La Touche Legacy here, and their upcoming annual weekend seminar in September here. You can find out about The Irish-German Association of Wicklow here.