Cathal crowe

Cathal Crowe (born 1 October 1982) is an Irish politician and member of the Fianna Fail political party. In the 2004 local elections, with the highest number of first preference votes, he won a seat representing the people of South-East Clare (Killaloe electoral area) in the Clare County Council. At the time he was just 21 years of age, making him the youngest county councillor in the country. He also intends to contest the next local elections, scheduled for May 2009.

Education and Background

Cathal Crowe has lived all his life in his native Meelick, a parish in County Clare. There he attended the local national school, Scoil Mhuire. His secondary school eduation was recieved at Ard Scoil Ris in Limerick city. Crowe entered the University of Limerick in 2000 as a student on the History, Politics and Social Science undergraduate degree course. He also holds a postgraduate degree in Primary Teaching from Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. After working for a year teaching in Scoil Mhuire, Meelick, Crowe took up a permanent position in neighbouring Parteen National School as of from September 2007.

Political Experience

Crowe’s political experience is vast for his age and includes: serving on the Clare VEC in Sept. 2004; holding the position of Chairman of the Killaloe Electoral Area 2006 – 2007 and being a member of the Clare County Enterprise Board 2004 -2009 [http://www.clareceb.ie/about/board_members.htm] . As a student in the University of Limerick he was also elected as chair of the university’s Fianna Fail Con Colbert Cumman. Also, Crowe is a member of the Irish Delegation to the Committe of the Regions as a Member of the Education Commission, making him the youngest person on the committee [http://www.iro.ie/pdf/CoR-DiaryProof-D.pdf] .

In addition, he is a former Fianna Fáil delegate to the National Youth Council of Ireland [http://www.nyci.ie/what_s_new/nyci_press_releases/well_done_to_youth_convention_delegates] and an Irish Delegate to the Convention on the Future of Europe [http://www.cor.europa.eu/presentation/down/ea/archives.html] . In 2004 he was an Irish delegate to the EU Presidency summit in Dromoland Castle. He has also served as an External Liaison Coordinator with Ogra Fianna Fáil involved meetings with political delegations in the UK, Czech Republic, Germany and Austria). Whilst pursuing a degree in Political Science from the University of Limerick in 2002, Crowe served his internship in the European Parliament (Brussels, Belgium) as an assistant to Brian Crowley the Munster MEP.

Personal

In his home parish of Meelick, Crowe has been an active member of the Cubs and Scouts organisation, having joined them as a schoolboy. He has also served as an assistant to the scout troop. He is a member of Conradh na Gaeilge and a keen traditional Irish session musician.