Portlaoise woman is surprise last minute Laois General Election candidate

In  suprise move, Pauline Flanagan has entered the General Election race in Laois.

Ms Flanagan left it to the final day for candidates to be nominated to announce her intention to run as an independent candidate on November 29.

She submitted her nomination papers to the Returning Officer Rory Hanniffy at Portlaoise Courthouse on Saturday morning.

Ms Flanagan said in a statement that although, she had no intention of running for public office again, she said shd has been encouraged by friends and family for the past number of months and believes as a strong professional, capable, compassionate person, she has the passion and the ability to win a seat in Dáil Éireann.

"Never has it been more apparent that Laois needs professional, capable, strong, driven people. I am active in the Laois community, sport and business world for many years now. I know I have the capability to make a difference and I hope that the people of Laois support me with their number 1 vote," she said.

Ms Flanagan contested the 2020 General Election for Fianna Fail but was not elected. She lost her seat on Laois County Council in the 2019 local elections after being co-opted onto the council by the party in the Portlaoise area following the death of Jerry Lodge.

She ran as an independent in the 2024 local election after a dispute with Fianna Fail over candidate selection. She did not win a seat but FF was not able to reclaim the seat once held by Jerry Lodge and Ms Flanagan.

She joins a field of 11 candidates running for three seats. Six are women.

Ms Flanagan says she is active in a voluntary capacity in numerous Laois community groups, including at board level at Youth Work Ireland Laois (YWIL), Laois Partnership, Laois Volunteer Centre (LVC), Laois Traveller Action Group (LTAG) in addition to being an active member of Laois Integration Network (LIN) and the Portlaoise St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee.

She says shd enjoys being part of Portlaoise GAA Mothers & Others as well as singing in the Portlaoise Parish Choir and being a member of her local residents’ association.

Ms Flanagan, who works as a lecturer in South East Technological University (SETU) also said that education is an absolute priority for her, including fighting for special needs facilities and additionally for a third level education hub which would then help achieve her objective of receiving funding for an indoor sports arena in Laois.

"I firmly believe that with my background in education, I can achieve a third level education hub for Laois and thereafter argue for funding for an indoor sports arena", said Ms Flanagan.

She added that there are numerous other areas of importance where she believes she has the ability to make a difference in the community.

These include youth, mental health, communicating about grants available, resources for a women’s refuge centre, achieving an inland business hub in Laois and continuing to promote tourism, heritage and the arts in what she calls the ‘Magical Midlands’ in Laois.

Ms Flanagan concluded by saying that it was time for change.

The candidate works as a lecturer in South East Technological University (SETU Carlow) – formerly IT Carlow. She holds a doctorate in higher education, a Masters in Public Relations and a BA in Theology and Economics. She lectures in Public Relations, Marketing, Public Affairs and Sports Sponsorship at SETU.

She is originally from a farming background in County Limerick but has lived in Portlaoise for several years where she is married to Gerry Flanagan. They have three children, Meghan, Frank and Paul Flanagan.