Tight battle: Three candidates in race to fill Fine Gael seat on Longford county council

The race to be co-opted onto Longford County Council to replace Paraic Brady, who was recently elected to the Seanad, has been described as a 'ferociously tight battle'.

Over 190 Fine Gael members in the Granard Local Electoral Area are eligible to vote for the three candidates Colin Dalton, Cian Brady and Kathleen McGahern.

Former councillor Paraic Brady was elected to Seanad Éireann via the agricultural panel last February.
Fine Gael is holding their selection convention on Thursday night, April 3 in Colmcille Community Centre in Aughnacliffe.

Mr Dalton was co-opted to Longford County Council in May, 2020 to replace Micheál Carrigy who was elected to the Seanad and he has over four years experience of being a public representative.

"I worked extremely hard for the Granard Municipal area working with community groups, football clubs, young people, farmers, businesses, because I'm a sales rep myself."

Colin Dalton lost out by just four votes in last June's local elections when he collected 1,067 votes and he was pipped by Fianna Fáil Cllr David Cassidy.

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Mr Dalton said he had the highest first preference vote in Ireland as a first time candidate and that is really the reason he is putting himself forward.

"I have worked hard the past 10 months and I've continued the work meeting community groups and development groups and anyone I can despite not being an official member.

"I feel I am experienced and I have a strong voice for the people and I'm hoping they will back me and give me their support on Thursday night.

"I think it will be a ferociously tight battle between the three of us," he added.

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Cian Brady (40), a younger brother of Paraic, who is employed as an energy consultant and has his own business said there has been a positive reaction to his candidacy.

"I always had an interest in politics, my grandmother, my late father and my brother Paraic all represented the people of Ballinamuck and North Longford with distinction.

"I grew up with it and I was around it all of my life and I look forward to the challenge.

"When Paraic stepped forward and won a seat in the Seanad I decided to put my name forward.

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"It's not down to a big [family] legacy, yes it's probably 65 years in the family but I wasn't asking people to vote for me because I'm Brady.

"I was asking people to vote for me because I live locally, I know the challenges hitting the community, I am self-employed but I know the pressures that face local businesses, farmers, communities.

"I have three small kids so I know the importance of strong schools, safe roads and vibrant communities," he added.

The third candidate Kathleen McGahern was a member of the Longford-Westmeath Education and Training Board, and former Secretary of the Community Employment scheme.

She has lived in Granard for 27 years and she works in the transport sector.

"I have been involved with the community down through the years and I've done a good bit of voluntary work with the committee and the only reason I put my name forward is because I want to help the people.

"I am getting a good response, everybody is very nice and very friendly."

It is expected that between 150 and 160 Fine Gael members will cast their vote with many predicting that it will go down to the wire.