GENERAL ELECTION: Laois constituency profile

Laois' brand new three seat constituency in the General Election was set to be one of the most predictable in the country until the shock resignation of outgoing TD Brian Stanley from Sinn Féin in October. 

The major shakeup has resulted in a question mark over the Portlaoise based politician's ability to retain the seat he has held since 2011 while other parties and independents are circling to make a gain. 

Stanley is running as an Independent Republican while Sinn Féin has thrown everything they have on retaining the seat with their candidate Maria McCormack. Ms McCormack, who works in healthcare, was one of seven Sinn Féin candidates who ran in the 2024 Laois local elections polling 276 first-preference votes in the Portlaoise Municipal District. Bringing in party leader Mary Lou McDonald for the launch of McCormack's campaign along with the drafting in of  Sean Hughes, a high-ranking member from the Republican heartland of south Armagh and serious political operator,  shows the party are taking this fight head on. 

Fianna Fáil is hoping to take two seats in the constituency with outgoing Minister of State Seán Fleming, first elected as a TD in 1997, and a last minute addition to the ticket of Austin Stack. Mr Stack, a Portlaoise native, previously served as Assistant Governor in the Irish Prison Service. His father, Portlaoise Chief Prison Officer Brian Stack, was shot by the IRA in 1983 and died in hospital in 1984.

Fine Gael have the potential poll topper in William Aird who is the party's candidate following the retirement of veteran Fine Gael TD Charlie Flanagan, 36 years after first being elected to the Dáil.

A consistent poll-topper at local elections in the Portlaoise area, Cllr Aird has the backing of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) and is a well-known and popular figure in the county town. He is a veteran in his own right having first entered politics in 1979.

Laois councillor  for the Graiguecullen-Portarlington area Aisling Moran is running as an independent. The outspoken politician left Fine Gael over accountability and has highlighted the waste of money as an election issue. Cllr Moran has experience in her corner. Her father John ran for Fine Gael in 2011 and was a councillor for many years while her PR manager John Whelan was a former general election candidate for Labour. She also has the  backing of three independent councillors - James Kelly, Tommy Mulligan and Ben Brennan. If there is a surge towards Independents Cllr Moran could vie for the final seat with Brian Stanley. 

Also running in this constituency is independent candidate Elaine Mullally who is hoping to make history by becoming the first ever elected woman TD from Laois. Ms Mullally is a married mother of two and businesswoman from Portarlington. Ahead of the election she set up a taskforce to support parents with children with special needs in the county. 

Ballinakill woman Rosie Palmer is hoping to win a seat in Laois for the Green Party. She contested the local elections in the Portlaoise Municipal District and secured 295 first preference votes. The candidate, who now lives in Abbeyleix, has studied Governance, Social Policy and Human Rights.

Aontu has recruited secondary school teacher and current school trade union representative Mary Hand to run for the party. Ms Hand, from Graiguecullen, has been politically active locally for a number of years.

Mountrath man Ken Mooney is standing for  People Before Profit. The 23-year-old is a recent graduate of the University of Limerick having studied politics.

Two last minute candidates to enter the field were former Fianna Fáil General Election candidate Pauline Flanagan and Jason Lynch.

Ms Flanagan has fallen out with Fianna Fáil over local election candidate selection. A former county councillor and community activist in Portlaoise she has contested two local elections and one general election. It is difficult to see her contesting in this campaign.

Mr Lynch is a Portlaoise native who was born in St Brigid's. A paramedic, he hopes voters will help him cause a shock. Success for him might be a respectable vote in Portlaoise that might be the foundation of a tilt at the General Election.

Although this constituency has been thrown into the spotlight by the Brian Stanley controversy, the former Sinn Féin TD remains the favourite to be returned despite his misfortunes. With a reputation of getting things done and being a hard worker it's the Stanley brand rather than the Sinn Féin brand that is strong in this constituency. 

Predictions: It is difficult to see Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael not retaining a seat in this constituency with outgoing Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming and Fine Gael's Willie Aird likely to take the first two seats. Whether Brian Stanley manages to retain his seat will be the big question with competition from independents like Aisling Moran and Elaine Mullally likely to throw up some doubt. 

Confirmed candidates: Willie Aird (Fine Gael), Pauline Flanagan (Independent), Seán Fleming (Fianna Fáil), Mary Hand (Aontú), Jason Lynch (Independent), Ken Mooney (People Before Profit-Solidarity), Maria McCormack (Sinn Féin), Aisling Moran (Independent), Elaine Mullally (Independent), Rosie Palmer (Green Party), Austin Stack (Fianna Fáil), Brian Stanley (Independent)