Aontú members select new council nominee
Cnvention took place at The Lavey Inn.
Aontú members in Cavan have selected who they wish to see replace the now Senator Sarah O'Reilly on Cavan County Council.
By a vote Adrian Rogers was nominated to fill the vacant seat in the Bailieborough-Cootehill Municipal District area by convention which took place at The Lavey Inn last Friday night.
The process follows Sen O'Reilly's elevation to the Seanad earlier this year.
Two candidates put their names forward for nomination- Eileen Clarke and Adrian Rogers- with proceedings headed up by former Fine Gael Cllr, now chair of the Cavan Aontú Cumann, John O'Hare.
He said it was an “important occasion” for the party, and that it was great to see the position contested.
“It's healthy for the party and healthy for democracy.”
Over two dozen members turned up, including former General Election candidate Tinko Tinev.
Wishing both well, Mr O'Hare stated: “The best horse will jump the ditch.”
The count of votes was facilitated by Conrad Donlon, Aontú party organiser from Dublin, assisted by Olivia Larkin, Chair of the Monaghan Aontú Cumann.
Both candidates are stalwart supporters of the now Seanad Agricultural Panel senator since she was first co-opted to Fianna Fáil TD Niamh Smyth’s council seat in 2016.
Since then though she has twice topped the poll in the Bailieborough-Cootehill local electoral area (2019, 2024) on her own steam, and achieved unprecedented success without winning a seat for her new party in successive general elections.
The pair of candidates have backed Sen O'Reilly every step of the way, and both spoke of hoping to continue that “good work” in the local MD.
“I was never involved in politics until Sarah roped me in,” laughed bookeeper and part-time cake decorator Ms Clarke from Bailieborough. She is also the first female chairperson of Bailieborough Shamrocks GAA.
“I admire everything she has done, and I'd like to get the opportunity to follow in her footsteps," she said of Sen O'Reilly.
Mr Rogers, a native of Knockbride now living in Bailieborough, and who runs The Bridge Bar in Canningstown, started out in politics alongside Sen O'Reilly in Fianna Fáil, before he too deflected to Aontú.
He has been a key member of Sen O'Reilly's backing team on each of her five election campaigns to date.
“I'd like to continue on her good work if I can,” he told convention delegates.
People arrived to cast their vote right up until 15 minutes before the polls closed at 8:30pm.
Speaking after the decision had been announced Mr Rogers said he was pleased with the outcome and promised to continue "working hard for the people of the area as Sarah has done".