Paul Lawless selected for local election by Aontú

KNOCK native Paul Lawless declared his intention to run for Aontú in the 2024 local election. 

Speaking to Mayo Live this afternoon (Wednesday), Mr Lawless clarified that he not yet been selected to run by the Aontú Ard Comhairle.

An earlier post on Aontú's Twitter account said that he had been selected as the party's candidate in the Claremorris-Swinford Local Electoral Area (LEA).  

Mr Lawless stood unsuccessfully in the 2019 local elections, where he was eliminated on the third count after receiving 677 first preference votes, 

He finished eighth behind Achill native Saoirse McHugh (Green Party) in the 2020 general election, receiving 2,574 first-preference votes. 

He also contested that year's Seanad elections on the Culture and Educational Panel. 

He said that he would like to 'open up' to the public the workings of Mayo County Council, which he compared to 'a secret society'. 

Mr Lawless cited the controversy over the soon-to-be completed modular homes for Ukrainians in Claremorris as an example of a lack of dialogue between the council executive and elected representatives.

The development went ahead on an OPW-owned site despite furious opposition from local representatives Cllr Richard Finn (Independent) and Cllr Tom Connolly (Fine Gael). 

"They’re the ones who are accountable to the people and I do think it’s an inversion of democracy when you have executives dictating to the councillors," Mr Lawless said. 

A PE and maths teacher in Ballyhaunis CS, Mr Lawless has been outspoken on issues such as overcrowding in Mayo University Hospital (MUH) and has organised buses for patients availing of healthcare in Northern Ireland. 

Mr Lawless said he would campaign for improved services at MUH, more funding for the nursing home sector, a reduction in business rates and cost-of-living measures. 

He intends to stand in the Claremorris-Swinford LEA, which is also being contested by first-time Fine Gael candidate Alma Gallagher. 

The only candidate in the nine-seat constituency who will not be contesting the 2024 local elections is Ballyhaunis-based Fine Gael councillor John Cribbin.

Ms Gallagher will aim to retain for Fine Gael the seat vacated by Cllr Cribbin, who was first elected in 1999. 

Long-serving Charlestown-based county councillor Gerry Murray (Sinn Féin) has yet to confirm if he will contest the next local election.