Gender balance further skewed as Brady steps down

Cavan County Council was shocked this week with the news of Cllr Gráinne Brady’s resignation. Citing personal reasons for her resignation, Cavan’s Sinn Féin party were clearly saddended by Cllr Brady’s sudden departure.
Cllr Brady was co-opted into Sinn Féin’s ranks early last year to replace Cllr Pauline Tully McCauley. The assembled representatives praised Cllr Brady for her ability to bring many pertinent social issues to prominence.
A tearful Patricia Walsh (FF) spoke of her disappointment at the news, and stressed the hardship young women face, especially those with a young family, when entering local politics.
The news strikes another blow against women in local politics - with now only three women seated on the County Council. There has only ever been one female County Council Cathaoirleach - the late Veronica Sharkey.
Sinn Féin’s Cllr Charlie Boylan told The Anglo-Celt: “We regret very much that Gráinne has resigned, she was a very articulate councillor and she will be a great loss to us.”
Cllr Boylan is confident that they will have a replacement councillor by the end of this year, to prepare for 2014’s local elections.
“We would hope to have a candidate for the Ballyjamesduff electoral area selected to present at the December meeting of Cavan County Council.”