Mayo failing to reach proposed quota for female councillors
by CONOR CURRAN
Just two female candidates have been elected to the Mayo County Council elections so far.
They are Donna Sheridan, Castlebar, and Alma Gallagher, Claremorris, both members of Fine Gael.
They may be joined later today by outgoing Fianna Fáil Councillor Annie May Reape, Ballina.
A 40% quota has been proposed for local elections by organisations such as the National Women’s Council (NWC).
According to See Her Elected (SHE), Mayo has failed to cross even a 20% threshold in recent years.
A record number of 677 women around the country contested the most recent elections, an increase from 566 in 2019.
However projections from the NWC show that they will likely only make up around 26% of total elected candidates.
The NWC said: “It is crucial that women are placed as candidates in winnable seats and with adequate time and resources to plan and run a successful campaign for election.
"Gender-based abuse and harassment is an increasing barrier to women's political participation and must be tackled.”
Only two women were elected to the county council in 2019 - Donna Sheridan and Annie May Reape.
Meanwhile Alma Gallagher became the first female Claremorris area representative to be elected to local council in history.
Swinford has never elected a female councillor.
Gallagher shared her elation at the chance to “break the glass ceiling”, reiterating how important it is to have “strong, young, educated, and vibrant women” in leadership roles rather than being restrained to supportive roles.
When it comes to factors that might hold women back from being elected to these roles, or even running for them, Alma Gallagher pointed towards social media scrutiny, a lack of financial support, and the difficult task of balancing childcare and politics.
With her historic win, Gallagher hopes to inspire other women and fill the nationwide gap of female role models that are engaged in local politics.
PHOTO: Councillor Alma Gallagher (centre), the first woman to be elected to Mayo County Council for the Claremorris area, pictured with supporters after her election was confirmed in the early hours of yesterday.