Laois Dáil seat belongs to Sinn Féin not an individual or family - says Laois candidate

Laois Sinn Féin gathered in substantial numbers to hear their new General candidate send a shot across the bow of former Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley who is attempting to win the seat as an independent

Laois Sinn Féin members backed Portlaoise resident Maria McCormack to win a seat for the party in a constituency where the party has faced major upheaval due to the resignation from the party of Brian Stanley.

Speaking at the General Election Convention Portlaoise on Monday, November 4, Ms McCormack, a first-time General Election, candidate said she knew she faced a challenge to win the seat. While she or her party leader did not reference Brian Stanley by name in their speeches, Ms McCormack was clear why people voted for her party.

"I do not underestimate the challenge I am facing giving the recent difficulties in Laois but I am in this election to win. Sinn Féin won this seat on three different occasions since 2011.

"The Sinn Féin seat in Laois belongs to Sinn Féin it does not belong to anyone in particular nor does it belong to any family in particular. In this constituency people voted for Sinn Féin in 2011, 2016 and 2020 because they believed in the better future we can have with a Sinn Féin Government and I believe that they will vote in 2024 and elect the first woman TD for Sinn Féin in Laois," she said.

In accepting the nomination at the Killeshin Hotel with her party leader Mary Lou McDonald in attendance, Ms McCormack was critical of media coverage of her leader.

"We all know and experience the tempest of negative media that the party here and Laois and elsewhere has experienced and Mary Lou has been in the eye of that storm. Speaking personally, and I am sure that my views are shared by all Republicans in Laois and across Ireland - Mary Lou your leadership, steadfastness, and determination in the midst of a media onslaught has been remarkable and outstanding," she said.

She said it was her party's strength of leadership to say yes when she was called by Mary Lou and asked to run. 

"It is an honour for me to be selected by the party to carry the republican banner in Laois and hopefully all the way to Dáil Éireann," she said.

Her selection was not a surprise as Ms McCormack was the only name to go before party members when they gathered in Portlaoise on Monday, November 4. The former Laois County Council local election candidate emerged in recent weeks after Dep Stanley's resignation over a disciplinary process which resulted in his resignation.

Ms McCormack works in healthcare was one of seven Sinn Féin candidates who ran in the 2024 Laois local elections. Just two were elected, Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley and Aidan Mullins. Cllr Mullins left the party after being suspended.

Ms McCormack thanked Cllr Mullins for publicly supporting her candidature which was proposed by Sinn Féin Laois secretary Aaron Kelly and second by Lorna Holohan Garry. Both are former local election candidates. 

Ms McCormack told the convention that it was from her Republicanism stems from the Lewis family of The Heath mentioning that her great grandfather was the first Sinn Féin county councillor in Laois. 

The Sinn Féin Leader was the guest speaker at the convention. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Sinn Féin convention at the Killeshin Hotel.

"The only way to get the change of government and to get the new government that the people of Ireland need is to support and vote for Sinn Féin. The voters of Laois can play a big part in achieving that goal on election day," she said.

"Voting for Sinn Féin’s Maria McCormack is the best way for the people of Laois to call time on governments led by Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael, and to grasp a historic opportunity to elect a new government for working people led by Sinn Féin," she said.

Ms McDonald said that Ms McCormack is an outstanding candidate for Sinn Féin. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Mary Lou McDonald addresses the convention.

"Maria is an outstanding community activist who cares deeply about this county, its present and its future. She is a dedicated Irish Republican, and she will make a first-class Teachta Dála for the people of Laois," she said.

The Sinn Féin leader told the gathering party members had won the seat.

“The Sinn Féin seat in Laois was hard won by the relentless work of many republican activists down through the years. Selfless activists who understood that this is not about any individual but always about the bigger picture.

"It is a seat for the ordinary people of this county, backed by Sinn Féin voters who believe that real change and a better future is possible.  "We are out to win this seat because this party – all of us together - have the backs of workers and families in Laois. They again look to us to stand up for them, to represent them, to defend their interests and to deliver results for them," she said.

Ms McDonald said that Ms McCormack is an outstanding candidate.

"Maria is an outstanding community activist who cares deeply about this county, its present and its future. She is a dedicated Irish Republican, and she will make a first-class Teachta Dála for the people of Laois.

"Maria is a healthcare professional with years of experience and a real passion for improving mental health services and youth services.

"She also knows about challenges. Maria has a beautiful daughter with ASD, so she understands firsthand first the barriers families face in getting the services children deserve.

"Whether it's fighting for school places for children with special needs, working for much-needed improvements to transport and public infrastructure, supporting local businesses, and standing up for family farmers – Maria McCormack will be the champion Laois needs now and for the future.

Ms McCormack polled 276 first-preference votes in the Portlaoise Municipal District. This contrasted with Cllr Dwane Stanley, husband of Brian Stanley, who comfortably 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.

Ms McCormack is the latest woman to enter a field where, so far, five of the eight candidates are female. Already declared are Mary Hand of Aontú, Rosie Palmer, Green Party, Elaine Mullally, independent, Cllr Aisling Moran, independent.

Apart from Dep Stanley who is running as an independent republican, the other two men in the race are sitting TD Seán Fleming of Fianna Fáil and Cllr Willie Aird who is hoping to retain the seat of Charlie Flanagan for Fine Gael.

Just three seats are on offer in the new Laois constituency in the 2024 General Election.