Aontú, one of Ireland’s newest political parties, has announced a change of candidate for the Laois constituency in the upcoming General Election.
The party have chosen well-known secondary school teacher and current school union representative, Ms Mary Hand.
The Graigecullen native has been politically active locally for a number of years and helped establish the first Access Programme for students from disadvantaged areas, a model now replicated nationally.
Ms Hand was the co-founder of the Barrowvale Residents’ Association and garnered a reputation for “diligent and steadfast advocacy for her fellow residents,” a party spokesperson said.
Ms Hand comes from a long-established family in Graiguecullen, well known in the area and the wider county.
Martha Ryan was originally selected to run as the Aontú candidate in Laois but Ms Ryan has stepped aside for personal reasons.
Ms Ryan was Aontú’s very first Local Election candidate in Laois, running in the Portlaoise Municipal District where she was eliminated after the Third Count with 182 first preference votes.
Established in 2019 by high-profile TD and party leader Peadar Toibin, this will be Aontú’s first time to contest a General Election in Laois.
They were the only party that campaigned for a No vote in the Family and Care Referendums in June, which the public overwhelmingly rejected.
“Aontú has achieved remarkable results in the five years since its inception. It is a party unafraid to stand up for what it believes in,” Ms Hand said.
“I am proud to stand for a party that stands up for the weakest in society and does so without fear or favour.”
The newly selected candidate spoke about her desire to see improvements for special schools in Laois, saying current standards are “unacceptable.”
Ms Hand also highlighted the homelessness crisis and the housing crisis as a whole.
“At a time when our country is awash with money, we have the spectre of 14,760 people homeless, including 4,500 children,” Ms Hand said.
“People’s aspirations and dreams to own their own homes in County Laois have been trampled on by this government which is presiding over the worst housing crisis in history.”
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