Cllr Ben Ward – Representing Tullow Municipal District
Cllr Ben Ward – Representing Tullow Municipal District
Ben Ward is your councillor for the Tullow Municipal District on Carlow County Council. He was elected in the June 2024 local elections as a first-time candidate for Fine Gael after receiving 704 first preference votes and later exceeding the quota with 1,177 votes.
Ben lives with his family near the Fighting Cocks and went to primary school in Ballon before going to Tullow Community School to complete his second-level studies. He went on to earn a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from University College Dublin. He is currently completing a Masters degree in International Politics from Trinity College Dublin.
Ben was elected just two days after his 21st birthday making him the youngest politician in Ireland. He is passionate about making our community a better place for everyone who lives here. He wants to be a voice for young people and bring a new perspective to the council.
Cllr Ben Ward – Representing Tullow Municipal District
Cllr Ben Ward – Representing Tullow Municipal District
Ben Ward is your councillor for the Tullow Municipal District on Carlow County Council. He was elected in the June 2024 local elections as a first-time candidate for Fine Gael after receiving 704 first preference votes and later exceeding the quota with 1,177 votes.
Ben lives with his family near the Fighting Cocks and went to primary school in Ballon before going to Tullow Community School to complete his second-level studies. He went on to earn a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from University College Dublin. He is currently completing a Masters degree in International Politics from Trinity College Dublin.
Ben was elected just two days after his 21st birthday making him the youngest politician in Ireland. He is passionate about making our community a better place for everyone who lives here. He wants to be a voice for young people and bring a new perspective to the council.
Key Policy Areas and Advocacy
Key Policy Areas and Advocacy
Since taking office, Ben has focused on a diverse range of local and social issues, including:
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Housing & Infrastructure: Affordable housing and rural public transport.
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Health & Inclusion: Special education supports, dementia-awareness, and drug services.
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Community Support: Funding for local groups, supporting farmers, and assisting small businesses.
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Environment: Improving parks and recreational facilities.
Strategic Committee Roles
Strategic Committee Roles
Ben is an active member of the Community Development, Recreation, Amenity, Sports, Arts, Culture, Libraries, Museum & Heritage Strategic Policy Committee. In this capacity, he advocates for:
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Sports facilities tailored for people with disabilities.
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The expansion of parks and playgrounds throughout the county.
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The creation of a comprehensive council-led drugs-awareness strategy.
Community and Cultural Engagement
Community and Cultural Engagement
Beyond his main committee, Ben contributes to several specialized groups:
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Public Art Working Group: Coordinating policy and funding for local art.
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Library Development Plan Steering Group: Promoting accessibility to books and education.
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Tullow Town Team: Collaborating with the public on the “Tullow Town Centre First Plan” to drive urban regeneration.
Ben also represents the area on the Southern Regional Assembly, a body comprising councillors from across southern Ireland. His work at this level focuses on ensuring balanced regional development and the effective rollout of EU funding schemes.
Beyond his main committee, Ben contributes to several specialized groups:
-
Public Art Working Group: Coordinating policy and funding for local art.
-
Library Development Plan Steering Group: Promoting accessibility to books and education.
-
Tullow Town Team: Collaborating with the public on the “Tullow Town Centre First Plan” to drive urban regeneration.
Ben also represents the area on the Southern Regional Assembly, a body comprising councillors from across southern Ireland. His work at this level focuses on ensuring balanced regional development and the effective rollout of EU funding schemes.