Laois Sinn Féin launches bid to win more power in Portlaoise with new candidate

Laois Sinn Féin has signalled its election intent to win more seats on Laois County Council by selecting a new representative for the Portlaoise electoral district.

The party has selected Maria McCormack Area Representative for the Municipal District Area that includes Portlaoise, Abbeyleix, Ballinakill, Raheen, Ballyroan, Shaen and Killeen.

She is also on the verge of being ratified as the party's candidate for the county council elections for May 2024 as running mate to Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley in the Portlaoise area. 

A woman with big Ballyroan links, she says she has been a very active member of Sinn Féin for the last three years but a supporter of the party for a long time.

"I am very excited to be nominated by the local party and look forward to be ratified hopefully within the next few weeks. I am delighted with this opportunity and hope I can win the support of my local community to serve them and have a voice on our local council to improve our community," she said.

Ms McCormack, who lives in Fielbrook works in the healthcare industry.

"Healthcare is my passion and during the period that I worked as a pharmacy technician, I saw at first-hand the difficulties caused by the lack of basic services," she says.

She says she understands the pressures faced by families.

"As a parent with a young family, I am keenly aware of the many challenges facing families, dealing with the cost of living crisis, housing and access to services etc.

"I have a daughter on the autism spectrum and as a member of Laois/Offaly Families for Autism (LOFA) I am a keen advocate to have services improved. Primary care services, including mental health services in the community, need to be given a greater priority and being a member of Family Carers Ireland I am determined to work on this," she said.

The candidate says she has been active in the community prior to deciding to enter politics.

"From a young age I have been active in the local community, from been chairperson of Ballyroan Foróige to Laois Civil Defence and enjoyed preforming with Portlaoise gospel choir and Portlaoise musical society. Over the years I have done a considerable amount of voluntary work in our community and this is where I have developed a love for helping people.
I have always been a strong advocate for the marginalized or vulnerable people in our community to ensure inclusion and equality for everyone.

"Politics and human rights are my passion, in particular local government. My family have had a longstanding connection with republicanism as my great grandfather Jim Lewis from Morette was one of the first Sinn Féin Councillors elected in Laois.
I am unbelievably proud to carry on this tradition.

"I want to be part of a hard-working team of Sinn Féin councillors in Laois and play my part to improve local services, housing and infrastructure.

"These are some of the basic cornerstones that I feel strongly about as a candidate," she said.

Laois man charged with spate of building and farm material thefts around Ireland

Ms McCormack will contest the local elections which take place in May 2024. There are seven seats up for grabs in the Portlaoise Municipal District which is the biggest of the three Laois County Council electoral districts. Sinn Féin has just two seats on the council at present.