Cllr Padraig Fleming will reach the pinnacle of local politics when he is elected chairman of Laois County Council on Monday.
With his own Fianna Fáil party and Fine Gael having a majority on the council, his election is a foregone conclusion.
His elevation to the top seat in local politics is the culmination of an active life in politics. “It is a great honour for me and my family. I am looking forward to this opportunity. It is a great honour for anybody who is chosen and I will have to do my best,” he said.
He said he has some understanding of the work involved, noting that along with chairing meetings and attending additional committee meetings, there will be a huge amount of social functions at which he will represent the council.
Although, only a public representative for less than a decade, politics is certainly in his blood. “I have been involved in politics all of my life as I come from a very political family,” he said.
Two of Padraig’s uncles – Eamonn (who was a Commander) and Paddy – were involved in what was reputed to be the first shots of 1916 when train tracks were removed to prevent British forces coming from Waterford to Dublin when the Rising took place. Shots were fired when what was described as a ruckus ensued.
Just one generation removed from 1916, and the ensuing War of Independence and Civil War, it was almost inevitable that the next generation of Flemings would have a passion for politics.
Illustrating how complicated things were at that time, after the War of Independence, the brothers supported different sides.
“Uncle Eamonn went with Michael Collins and Uncle Paddy went with Dev. Eamon ended up in the Department of Finance while Paddy started Flemings Fireclay,” Cllr Fleming said.
“A lot of other families would be debating GAA at their kitchen table, but for us it was politics,” he said.
Cllr Fleming has been an active member of the Fianna Fáil party for around 48 years, and for a long period served as secretary and PRO of Laois Fianna Fáil before being elected to Laois County Council.
Community work has been a hallmark of Cllr Fleming’s life and long before he sought election he had been active in his local community.
In 1980 he became chairman of Swan Youth Centre. He then took on the role of chairman of Ossory Youth Service, which takes in a large area within the Ossory Diocese covers, including Kilkenny, a small part of Offaly, as well as parts of Laois.
It is a service which has grown considerably. “I remember interviewing the first youth worker when we got funding for it. Now we have a chief executive and 15 staff. We have really grown as an organisation,” he said.
Election
In 2009 the man who had worked for so long behind the scenes, including as Fianna Fáil director of elections, went forward for election himself and successfully won a seat in the old Luggacurren area.
He was returned for a second term five years later for the new Graiguecullen/Portarlington Municipal District, which saw a smaller number of councillors elected to an expanded area.
Around this time he retired as a logistics manager with Glanbia after 41 and a half years service.
His retirement dovetailed nicely with the increased workload which councillors now face.
“I do enjoy it immensely,” Cllr Fleming said of his role as a public representative.
“I have received great support from my family and from very able members of the party, who have been very supportive of me over the years,” he said.
The Fleming political machine is legendary in political circles locally and beyond. When asked what the secret is, Cllr Fleming laughed and said “no comment”.
Seán was elected a TD for the then Laois/Offaly constituency in 1997 and has held his seat ever since.
All Cllr Fleming would divulge is that his brother Seán is a very good strategic thinker and planner, and his brother Brendan is very good with numbers.
Family
Coming from a large family of 10 has also helped, The other siblings are Mary, Lazerian, Jim, Leo, Margaret, Anne and Joseph.
The Swan native thanked his wife Catherine for her support as well as daughter Avril and son-in-law Joe – not forgetting granddaughter Evie – and daughters Rachel and Stephanie.
Cllr Fleming certainly won’t be lacking stamina for his demanding year ahead as he has just returned from seven days walking the Camino in Spain, where he and family members walked an average of 27km per day in 35-36 degree heat.
He believes the Fianna Fáil party is showing some very positive signs after being somewhat in the political wilderness – a strange position for the country’s most dominant party.
“After a bad election result we are coming back up and are in a stronger place. A lot of the new TDs are doing well,” he said.
If his party is enjoying a comeback similar to the proverbial phoenix from the flame, then expect the bonfires to be burning on Monday night when he returns as cathaoirleach to his native Swan.
