Aontú convention to take place

Nominated person will replace Senator Sarah O'Reilly on council.

A convention to replace the seat on Cavan County Council vacated following Sarah O’Reilly’s elevation to the Seanad will take place at The Lavey Inn later this week.

Two candidates have put their names forward for nomination - Eileen Clarke and Adrian Rodgers - both stalwart supporters of the now Senator O’Reilly across multiple election campaigns.

The Aontú representative now sits on the Agricultural Panel in the Upper House, but twice topped the poll in the Bailieborough-Cootehill local electoral area (2019, 2024) after first being co-opted onto Fianna Fáil TD Niamh Smyth’s council seat in 2016.

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 compared to five years previous before her eventual elimination.

The selection will take place before a body of the party’s grassroot supporters at 7:30pm on Friday, March 28, with a member of Aontú head office coming to Cavan to host proceedings.

Speaking to the Celt this week, Sen O’Reilly gave her backing to both candidates, and wished the best of luck in their endeavours.

“They are both brilliant candidates,” she said, suggesting that the Aontú seat won by her would be in safe hands. “What it shows, the interest that is there, is that Aontú is a growing party. I wish them both the very best of luck.”