Published: Wednesday, 31st March, 2010 5:00pm

This is political life - Detty Cornally

It's been 16 years since Detty Cornally made her first foray into politics and she has no intention of hanging up her boots any time soon despite caring full-time for her husband Rob, being president of Mullingar Shamrocks, on the committee of the Westmeath Football Supporters' Club, and finding time to do whatever charity work she is asked to do as well as performing her duties as a town and county councillor.

"What would I do if I stopped?" asked Detty when asked if she was thinking about retirement. "No sure I would sleep all day, I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I stopped. I have never been on a sun holiday but I can't imagine just lying there all day: I'd have to be out walking and looking round the stalls or something. I always say that if you want to do something, you'll find a way to do it."

When Detty first came to Mullingar from her home in Gainstown at the age of 16 to work, she had no idea that at some point she would go into politics.

Detty married husband Rob eight years after moving to town and the couple had seven children which left her little time to think about anything else.

"I never remember talk about politics at home in Gainstown, My mother and father just never spoke about it. But when I married Rob, he was in the Labour party and I got interested and joined the party as well but there was little time to do anything much when the kids were small, I was so busy. I worked in the office of a hardware store on Dominick Street, where Smyths is now and I can remember that I was one of the first to work for a little while after I got married because back then you had to give up your job. I think that's maybe one of the main reasons why there are so few women in politics: we are so busy looking after everyone else that we don't have time for it.

"Anyway it's 16 years since I was first asked to run by the party and that was because of the work I had been doing behind the scenes. I suppose I knew a lot of people because I am from the area and in local politics the personal vote means everything.

"At the time I just sort of thought I'll run and if I don't get in then that's that and I won't mind. That was for the town council and it was 16 years ago and I ran for the county council six years ago for the first time.

"Last year I was Leas Cathaoirleach and that was a privilege, I couldn't have looked at it any other way. I really never thought that I would end up doing that job when I was first put forward as a candidate by the Labour Party, it wouldn't have entered my mind.

"At the moment I am chairperson of the council's special committee on housing and I suppose that has always been my big interest and something that I have always represented people on.

"There is one housing issue that I would like to see resolved but it's sensitive at the minute so I can't say too much. What I would like to see happen for the county and the country is to see the economy get back on an even keel. There is so much locally that needs to be done and I know that the council will be unable to do that now because some of the outdoor staff retired last year and weren't replaced and the same thing happened in administration. It's a shame that we can't do all that we want to but that's the times that are in it I suppose."

Detty is as well-known for her political achievements as she is for her role as president of Mullingar Shamrocks GAA club, a title which she has held for the last 20 years.

A love of all things GAA has been with Detty since she was a little girl and Shamrocks was the club that she shouted for when her parents took her to matches around the county.

"Well it was a choice of either Shamrocks or Rochfortbridge but Shamrocks was the team I picked," said Detty.

"Then when Rob moved into Mullingar after we got married he played for the team. He was a well-known footballer, he played for Ballymore, and I actually knew all about him before we first met at the Horizon on Patrick Street, not too far from where we live now actually. Rob went on to play on the winning Westmeath Minor team in 1969 and was always involved with GAA and that's how I became involved as well.

"Through Shamrocks we used to run two feises here in Mullingar which only stopped about four years ago. I was involved with that and of course I'm involved with Scór who are taking a novelty act to the Leinster final this Saturday.

"The group is excellent and one of these years it will be our turn to take the All Ireland. I have been told that our club is the longest running urban Scór in Ireland so that is something that we are very proud of.

"I am also proud of what I have achieved in politics and can't say that I want to go just yet. I have been vice chair of the town council so it's possible that I could be out forward for chairperson. I'll have to wait and see."