Fine Gael moves swiftly to fill Willie Aird's Portlaoise seat on Laois council

Fine Gael is moving swiftly to replace new Laois TD Willie Aird on Laois County Council with the likelihood that the party will have his replacement in place for the local authority's final meeting of 2024.

A new councillor for the Portlaoise Municipal District will have to be co-opted to the local authority following Dep Aird's election.

The party has scheduled a Co-Option Convention for Sunday evening, 15 Dec, at 7.30 pm at the Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise.

A Laois party official also told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that the names would seeking the support of Laois members would not be revealed until the convention.

However, some possible candidates have been mooted.

These include Paddy Buggy, who contested the 2024 local elections for Fine Gael but fell short in the Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District. He also fell short in 2009 when he contested in the Portlaoise area. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

A Laois County Council visit to County Hall in Portlaoise.

Mr Buggy sought the Fine Gael General Election nomination in 2024 but withdrew at the Selection Convention to allow Dep Aird a clear run. 

Former Portlaoise councillor Thomasina Connell has been rumoured to a possibility. She contested the 2016 General Election for Fine Gael in Laois and had intended to seek the nomination this year until she lost her Council seat at the June Local Elections.

The other name doing the rounds is Anna Marie Aird, wife of Dep Aird. The Portlaoise representative played a big part in her husband's campaign and was also central to the election of Francie Gorman to the Presidency of the IFA.

County Councillors are due to gather on December 16 for their final meeting of 2024.