29 January 2004: Mary Lynch, chairperson of the Management Committee of Athy Community Development Project, has been unanimously selected by the Progressive Democrats to contest the forthcoming local elections for Athy Town Council.

A resident of Oaklawn, Athy, Mary helped found the Athy Citizens Information Centre in 1985 and is currently secretary of the Athy Arts Group. She has also served as a Director of Athy Credit Union and was a member of the parents' council of Scoil Eoin.

Through her work with Athy Community project, Mary was heavily involved in promoting the inclusion of Athy as a designated area under the RAPID Programme - a special scheme that deals with social exclusion in targeted towns around the country.