Aontú’s O’Reilly claims Seanad seat

Aontú’s Sarah O’Reilly collected an astonishing 58 first preference votes out of 76 promised by the hundreds of councillors and TDs she canvassed in the weeks leading up to last weekend’s Seanad election. To put into context - most work from a rule that they’re lucky if one of out every five committals go their way. Some fare worse.

But even after the she put up an initial fighting chance for a seat on the Agricultural Panel the Cavan woman continued to amaze, picking up second and third preferences as other names got eliminated, from right across the country and over a broad political spectrum.

A mark of her popularity, and the political respect she has earned politically since being co-opted onto Fianna Fáil TD Niamh Smyth’s county council seat in 2016, is there for all to see.

She has twice topped the poll in the Bailieborough-Cootehill local electoral area since then (2019, 2024), and after leaving Fianna Fáil to join a fledgling Aontú, she ran a close race for the fifth and final seat in last December’s General Election when she almost doubled her vote in transfers alone before elimination.

It was her second time running for the Dáil.

When the Celt caught up with her on Monday, a tired but wholly delighted Senator O’Reilly, is sitting down. Her cat, obviously feeling neglected - an orphan to three election campaigns in the space of 12 months - is nudging at her leg looking for more attention.

“It just hit me yesterday. I didn’t move too far from the couch at all.”

The last General Election, she admits to having left “everything on the pitch”.

Some thought the Bailieborough native was “mad” to take a run at another political campaign. There were the naysayers of course, much quieter now than before. And there were others too, quietly encouraging.

“There was nothing left in the tank after the general. But in fairness Peadar [Tóibín, Aontú leader] got on the phone, connecting with people he knew, or were closely aligned. I felt myself when I was on the campaign trail from other councillors, especially even from the likes of Fine Gael councillors, they have a genuine respect for Peadar and what we’re trying to do.”

The Aontú strategy was simple enough. After doubling their representation in the 34th Dáil they ran a single candidate in the Agricultural Panel, which has 11 seats, and put all their weight of influence behind her.

“I was picking up twos and threes from places I never expected to. People who were saying to me they’d give me a scratch but perhaps not their one. I nearly fell over when I was watching the transfers of the people going out.”

In particular, Senator O’Reilly canvassed in person very much among the border counties.

A member of Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN), a seat she’ll now have to relinquish, she says: “Every councillor, I tracked them down. I was going completely blind to some places, but it didn’t matter. I targetted Independents, but if I was in an area I would not go by a Fianna Fáil’er, or Fine Gael, or Sinn Féin. I canvassed everyone.”

She confesses to being “desperately sad” at the prospect of leaving local representation for Leinster House. Cavan County Council she says is a “fantastic example” of local government.

“They’re just totally under funded and I’ll be fighting for them on that front. Local government is brilliant because it is closest to the people. Councillors need more devolved powers too. There is huge reform needed.”

Speaking of reform, and at the prospect of joining a chamber almost done away with through referendum a decade ago, she accepts how it operates also “needs to be looked at”.

But there are “huge opportunities” too to be a watchdog and voice for the people in putting forward amendments and scrutinising policy.

“I have great respect for the likes of [Michael] McDowell and Ronan Mullen, for the work they do to come up with solutions. That’s what I intend to focus on.”

Senator O’Reilly wears her community ties as a body armour when it comes to discussing her qualifications as a member sitting on the Agricultural Panel.

Her father Paddy used to run the once hugely popular Killinkere Visitor and Pet Farm and she maintains a “close relationship” with local IFA reps. The issues she raises at council level are the same issues that affect many rural families.

“Roads, planning, TB. I stood at the gates with farmers at protests, against Mercosur - that’s a massive issue that needs addressing, no doubt about that. You have to remember what the government parties were promising on this not two months ago. I’ll be holding them to account on that.”

So who will take Senator O’Reilly’s place on the in the Cavan council chamber?

For now she’s remaining tight-lipped.

All she’ll tell the Celt for now is that it will be a “Bailieborough person” for certain. “It’s a Bailieborough seat, I couldn’t do that to the people of Bailieborough. It would be treasonous.”

The only nugget of information she’ll share is that Senator O’Reilly would like to see a woman replace her.

“We don’t know yet. I think it’s a female seat as well. That’ll definitely be considered.”