The Meath electorate vote every five years and how those voters, and the forty councillors they elect, influence the decisions in county Meath are discussed in the first episode of Local Lens in 2026.

The Cathaoirleach, Councillor Wayne Harding, talks about his role and how there is no such thing as a typical day. He explains the way the public has input into committees that make recommendations which are voted on at meetings of the county council and he also discusses how social media plays a role in communicating important messages.

Cllr Sarah Reilly talks for the first time about being targeted on social media last year. It led to her address and phone number being published and while it is now in the past, she felt unsafe and is grateful her children are too young to have seen the hate expressed towards her.

Our final guest, who gives a national perspective and an engaging overview about social media, politics and just how precious our local elections are, is Virgin Media News Political Correspondent Gavan Reilly And yes, his creative and educational use of Smarties to explain proportional representation also gets a decent mention!

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• Delivering over one thousand local services
• Roles and mandates of elected councillors
• Cross party collaboration in local districts
• Impact of social media on representatives
• Proportional representation explained using Smarties

QUOTES

"The council delivers over 1000 services, impacting various aspects of community life, from road plans to festival support." - Elaine Keogh

"There is no typical day in the life of a county councillor; the responsibilities are incredibly varied." - Wayne Harding

"The impact of online harassment on a family can make you question your safety in public roles." - Sarah Riley

"Proportional representation ensures that every vote has the potential to influence the final outcome." - Gavin Riley

"Local elections drive the consensus and stability required for effective national governance." - Gavin Riley

KEYWORDS
#LocalDemocracy #MeathCountyCouncil #PublicService #IrelandElections #CommunityLeadership

MORE INFORMATION

Local government affects almost every aspect of our daily lives, yet many remain unsure how decisions are actually made. We dive into the delivery of over one thousand services and the vital role of your elected representatives. Discover how local democracy functions behind the scenes in Meath. Listen to the full episode. Search “Local Lens” on your podcast app now.

Please get in touch if you have any feedback, questions and suggestions regarding the podcast by emailing locallens@meathcoco.ie

Visit our website: meath.ie
This podcast was produced by dustpod.io

In a wide ranging conversation with Kieran Kehoe, the Chief Executive of Meath County Council, we hear about his vision to improve the quality of life for people who have made, or want to make, their home in county Meath.

How this can be achieved, who is involved in making it happen and why he believes so strongly that Meath is the best county in Ireland, all feature in an episode that brings the current series of Local Lens to a close.

We also hear from people enjoying the Samhain Festival in Kells and why, if the CE’s vision is implemented, the festivals in Meath will continue to feature on the global stage.

He also talks about his leadership style and why he values the work of all the council staff who, like him, chose to work in the public sector.

Did you know Meath has 9 decarbonisation zones? Or that for the first time in over thirty years Bettystown has Blue Flag status confirming it has the same amenities and standards as Blue Flag beaches found in other parts of the world including California?

In this episode we talk with Climate Action Officer Mary Darcy, Environment Education Officer Bernadine Cary, and Community Warden Alan Nolan.

We hear about a variety of climate action initiatives supported by the council to combat environmental challenges in our community including Navan Men’s Sheds and we also talk about the continuing issue of littering and explore its implications.

Join us for a busy but thought provoking episode that aims to inspire positive change and foster a sense of responsibility among residents in Meath.