Aontú on the hunt for Mayo council replacement

By Caoimhín Rowland

THE Claremorris Electoral Area will remain without a local councillor for now, as newly elected TD Paul Lawless of Aontú seeks to find a suitable replacement for his Mayo County Council seat.

Lawless, who vacated his position following his recent Dáil election victory, has described filling the vacancy as no small task.

“It’s a big ask for anyone, it’s a huge undertaking,” the new TD said. “I loved it, but it’s not a job for everyone.”

The vacancy exposes the growing pains of Aontú in Mayo, which, despite gaining ground, still lacks the party machinery and depth of personnel enjoyed by larger, more established parties.

Tommy Horan, who previously ran for Aontú in the Swinford Electoral Area, has emerged as a potential candidate for the role. However, with the new year fast approaching, the likeliest scenario is that a member of Lawless’ own family will step in to fill the vacancy.

Due to Ireland’s dual mandate rules, Lawless can no longer hold both his council seat and his Dáil position, making his absence felt at local district meetings for Claremorris and Swinford.

As the search continues, residents in the area are left to wonder who will eventually fill the void left by Lawless’ ascension to national politics.