Kenneth Egan is a champion choice by FG

I was always a bit suspicious of political parties recruiting celebrity candidates in the run up to elections.

On the face of it, it smacks of desperation. Why should a big name have the right to serve as a public representative on the basis that they are well known? What about the hard-working party activists who have cut their teeth in political activism at grassroots level over the years?

These are the men and women putting leaflets through your doors at election time or organising local fundraisers for the party. Some of them may harbour political ambitions of their own and have a justifiable expectation that they can put themselves forward at a selection convention.

There have been some worthy celebrity candidates over the years, chief among them RTE's George Lee who romped home in the Dublin South By-Election in 2009. Unfortunately, it seemed that Lee had unrealistic expectations in terms what he could achieve as a TD and it wasn't long before he quit and returned to Montrose.

Not all celebrity candidates - despite their impeccable credentials - connect with the electorate. Chernobyl children's champion Adi Roche didn't do the business as Labour's nominee in the 1997 Presidential Election. Similarly, that party's decision to put former RTE journalist Orla Guerin on the European Elections ticket in 1994 didn't pay off, largely due to the resistance of Labour's officially selected candidate, the formidable Bernie Malone.

Celebrity candidates are back in the news. Olympic boxing hero Kenny Egan is to run for Fine Gael in the Clondalkin ward in the local elections in May. I am largely supportive of this decision for a number of reasons.

•Kenny Egan (centre) pictured with Paddy Barnes and the late Darren Sutherland after their victories in the 2008 Olympics. Photo by Darren Kinsella

I don't believe that big name candidates have the right to represent us in the Dail without having first served as a democratically elected councillor at local level. Many of our senior politicians started as members of a local authority and celebrities should be no different.

The fact that Egan is willing to stand in front of the electorate at ground floor level is admirable in itself. If elected, he will have to sit through mundane meetings about planning applications, road improvement schemes and council budgets. If he has the stomach for this, he may decide to put himself forward as a candidate in a future general election.

Moreover, Egan will be standing in an area that has seen its fair share of social problems, where young people are often exposed to drugs and crime. Many of them have zero interest in politics and feel alienated, disillusioned and disinterested.

To see a sporting role model such as Kenneth Egan stand for election may encourage younger people to engage with politics and local issues. Egan has also openly spoken about his former battle with alcohol and is happy to share his experiences with local youth.

Kenny Egan is proof positive that you can overcome the obstacles life throws at you. This is a powerful message to be able to convey to the youth of Clondalkin and young people at large. As celebrity candidates go, Egan is a solid and sensible choice.