Alan Coleman is an experienced public representative having first been elected to Cork County Council in 1991. In each subsequent election Alan has been returned in the Bandon/Kinsale municipal district.
Alan, a father of five, served as Mayor of County Cork in 2014 /15 . While Mayor of county Cork, Alan worked tirelessly to get more support for local businesses while also attracting investment to County Cork.
As a Dairy and Tillage Farmer Alan has a huge interest in agriculture and sustaining rural communities.
Alan is very active in his community as Chairman of his local GAA club and previously as secretary of his local community association. Having vibrant communities with strong infrastructure can create an environment for youth to prosper.
Throughout West Cork a formidable industry was fishing, but it has been hampered by poor negotiation and over regulation by Government . Revitalising coastal communities and the Irish fishing industry is a priority for Alan.
Alan understands the importance of developing tourism in West Cork, and works to that end as Chairman of the Cork County Tourism committee and Board member of Visit Cork.
Alan is Vice President on the board of Energy Cities a European wide network representing up to a thousand local authorities on the issues of energy and climate change.
This Independent Councillor said he prioritises:
A. Tourism
B. Telecommunications.
C. Infrastructural Schemes.
Specifically, Alan Coleman says he would work to identify what’s achievable as regards –
(a) Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) – West Cork’s unique potential in tourism and especially its niche/artisan food industries.
(b) Telecommunication in West Cork, not only broadband but phone networks are very poor, he said, and improvement is crucial to facilitate industry and jobs.
(c) Infrastructure – “West Cork’s infrastructure is very poor compared to the national norm. The N71 is not up to standard as a main artery to West Cork. He has lobbied hard to secure the Cork/Boston flight which can deliver thousands of tourists to the Cork region.