Can Louth’s ‘Come Back Kid’ Frank Godfrey do it again, 50 years after first election?

Former Mayor of Drogheda – four times over – Frank Godfrey is once again throwing one of his many hats into the political ring, exactly 50 years after he first entered it.

It was a June day in 1974 when he first assumed the title of Alderman and councillor, something he dearly held onto in the decades since.

He was a 28-year-old independent and his rise to power within the council was nothing short of sensational.

Frank, alias Franklin Dee, a local DJ -swept in with 986 votes-360 votes above the quota.

"An ancestor of mine John Godfrey was Mayor of Drogheda in 1725 and my brother Malachy was Mayor on two occasions, so the Godfreys have made our contribution to local government, but it's not about the election for me, it’s about the future of Drogheda, which is in need of real leadership at the moment.” says Frank. “Right now, it's not the town that I know and love and we need to address the real issues, we need government investment, we need to return control back here in Drogheda, with engineers stationed in the town, along with a town manager.

"We've always played second fiddle to Dundalk, and I think it’s never been more apparent.”

Frank pulled off one of the most amazing feats in political history when he started in 1979 by being elected in three wards.

With 1,942 first preference votes - more than 20 per cent of the valid poll - the colourful Alderman romped home with a seat from each ward under his sleeve.

His biggest victory was in his home base, Saint Laurence Gate Ward, where, with 866 votes, he was 270 over the quota and a clear leader from then Mayor Alderman Peter Moore.

A mixed fortune followed, suffering a crushing defeat in 2004, making a triumphant return to local politics just five years later, before being ousted once more in 2019.

Like Arnie, he vowed he would be back and true to his word, he will run again as an independent candidate in June.

"The dereliction and destruction of Drogheda is something that hits my heart because our biggest selling point is tourism and we have a great band of people in the town, who are always pushing for change, but no one in Dublin ever listens.

"Of course, there's a push for city status, which I do agree with, but before that happens, we really have got to put the jigsaw pieces together with regard to all the real issues; getting people to come in here to invest and to create more employment.”

Frank is certainly a well-known figure around the country, hitting the national headlines as recently as last year which his crusade to rid Drogheda of the scourge of seagulls, and he became the unofficial mascot of the Fleadheanna in 2018 and 2019.

But with his 80th birthday just a couple of years away, he might still have the passion, but does he still have the energy for local politics?

"I have plenty,” he says with a laugh. “I was always as a man of energy and I love people and anybody that knows me, knows that I'm very I'm very positive in all my dealings. I'm an open book.”

That he may be...but will his next chapter see yet another return to local politics? Let’s see what happens in June.