Cllr Kay Dawson

She moved to Dublin to study paediatric nursing in Temple Street Hospital, married Owen and they have two young adults, Colm and Katie. Moving to Mitchelstown and beginning a young family as a stay-at-home mother, the community has played a big part in her life. With Owen travelling a lot with work, involvement with the Parent’s Council gave Kay a connection to her new home.

She went on to represent Cork East on the National Executive of the Primary Parents’ Council. Today, she still continues her involvement and interest in education matters, through Partners in Learning which has helped educate and develop the village of Mbula in Uganda, and the strong links between Mitchelstown and Mbula have enhanced both communities. Kay also sits on the Board of Management at C.B.S. Primary Mitchelstown.

Through her position on the Board of Ballyhoura Rural Services Ltd, Kay is acutely aware of the issues facing rural communities and the need to maintain sustainable rural communities, tackling rural isolation. She sees the work of a Councillor as being an extension of this, giving small communities a voice and a role at Council Level. Ensuring investment in infrastructure and services throughout our county will put us in the right position to benefit from further job creation and development by businesses into the future.

In 2008 Kay helped found the Youth Cafe in Mitchelstown; she is actively involved as a volunteer leader in this hugely successful project. They cater for over 150 young people each weekend, giving them a safe, peer-oriented place to socialise, develop their skills and a sense of belonging. Kay is proud of the difference they are making in these young peoples’ lives.