Áine Smith eyes up father’s seat

The daughter of the late councillor Sean Smith is hoping to fill the seat vacated on Cavan County Council by her father, who passed away last month.

Áine Smith is set to put her name forward and is seeking the support of the Fianna Fáil party to take her father’s place. Sean Smith had represented the west Cavan area for the 43 years.

Nominations for the co-option have opened. General Secretary of the Fianna Fáil party, Sean Dorgan, wrote to party members in the Cavan-Belturbet Municipal District area to inform them of the process last week.

The deadline for nominations is this tomorrow (Friday), February 24, at 5pm. Nominations received after that time will not be accepted.

Ms Smith is currently a secondary school teacher attached to St Mogue’s College in Bawnboy.

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The co-option convention to formally select a candidate to fill the vacancy will take place at The Seven Horseshoes Hotel in Belturbet on Thursday, March 2, commencing 8pm. Full voting members are invited to attend the event.

The late Cllr Smith passed away on Sunday, January 15, after an illness bravely borne.

He was first elected to Cavan County Council in 1979, representing the Belturbet Electoral Area, and was re-elected on seven successive occasions since.

The former Cathaoirleach (1989-90 and 2003-04) is the brother of Deputy Brendan Smith.

He was also a member of many committees, including the board of Cavan Monaghan ETB, and sitting Chair of the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Emergency Services Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) at the time of his death.

At the February monthly meeting of Cavan County Council, Cathaoirleach John Paul Feeley read out a letter of thanks from the Smith family in response to tributes paid to the late Cllr Smith following his death.