As it stands, Portlaoise has one of the highest rates of declared female candidates of any local election area in the country.
According to research collected by Maynooth University lecturer Adrian Kavanagh, Portlaoise has five selected/declared female local election candidates so far.
These consist of sitting councillors Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fáil) Pauline Madigan (Fianna Fáil) Caroline Dwane Stanley (Sinn Féin) Mary Sweeney (Fine Gael) and election candidate Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael).
Across Laois, nine women have selected/been declared to run for local elections at the present moment.
In Graiguecullen-Portarlington, three new female candidates are hoping for a spot in the municipal district. These candidates are Deirdre O’Connell-Hopkins (FF), Vivienne Phelan (FG) and Aisling Moran (FG).
While in Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick, there is only one woman running for a seat – Sinn Féin candidate Lorna Garry.
This means that Fine Gael lead the way with female candidates in Laois with four female representatives.
Fianna Fáil follows with three females representatives while Sinn Féin has two.
Blackrock, county Dublin, is the area with the highest number of selected/declared female local election candidates in the country with eight announced so far.
Navan, Meath, is second with seven selected/declared female local election candidates.
Trim, Greystones, Swords, North Inner City Dublin and Kimmage-Rathmines each have six selected/declared female local election candidates.
Portlaoise, Longford (Town), Clonakilty-Skibbereen (Skibbereen-West Cork), Tramore-Waterford City West, Limerick City North, Lucan, Firhouse-Bohernabreena, Tallaght-Central, and South East Inner City, are fourth with five selected/declared female local election candidates.
SEE ALSO – The confirmed list of candidates in this year’s Local Elections
