Mary Lou McDonald due at Laois SF General Election candidate selection convention

A Portlaoise Sinn Féin Laois local election candidate is seeking her party's backing to replace Brian Stanley as a Sinn Féin TD in the Dáil.

Maria McCormack confirmed to the Leinster Express / Laois Live that she would be allowing her name to go to the upcoming Laois General Election Convention which will be attended by party leader Mary Lou McDonald.

"I can confirm that I am seeking a nomination from my local party membership. If successful, I will be honoured to go forward as the Sinn Féin candidate in Laois and look forward to the campaign," she said.

Ms McCormack outlined what would be her priorities on the campaign trail.

"There are serious issues in the county such as the lack of affordable housing, sky-high rents, lack of investment in our hospitals, local health centres, mental health services and the expansion of schools for both mainstream and special needs classes and only Sinn Féin can bring the change needed for Laois in this coming election," she said.

She also confirmed that a date for the Convention had been agreed and that her party leader would be present.

"I am delighted that Uachtarán Shinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald will be guest speaker at the selection convention on Monday evening (November 4)," she said.

Her party has yet to confirm if other names going before the convention. Nominations remain open until Sunday. Laois Sinn Féin Secretary Aaron Kelly confirmed that Ms McCormack is the only name to go forward so far.  MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: Helen Campion, Brian Stanley, Lorna Holohan Garry, former MEP Chris McManus, Maria McCormack, Aaron Kelly, Caroline Dwane Stanley, Jason Phelan at a Sinn Féin local and European Election launch this year. Only Cllr Dwane Stanley won a seat on Laois County Council.

Ms McCormack was one of three Sinn Féin candidates who ran in the 2024 Laois local elections with the aim of representing the Portlaoise Municipal District. She was one of the many casualties in a bad campaign for her party.

She polled 276 first preference votes in contrast to Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley who retained her council seat after getting 1,415 number one votes.

Ms McCormack lives in Portlaoise and works in health care. The parent with a young family is active in Portlaoise Womens Shed is a member of Laois/Offaly Families for Autism (LOFA), the Portlaoise Cemetery Committee.  She was previously a member of Ballyroan Foróige to Laois Civil Defence.

Her announcement comes within 24 hours of former Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley made the expected announcement that he would contest the General Election as an 'independent Republican'.

He resigned from Sinn Féin after a disciplinary process led to a provisional finding of gross misconduct on grounds of sexual harassment. Dep Stanley claims other members of Sinn Féin have left the party. Dep Stanley also lost his job as Chairman of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are not running second candidates.