Deirdre Lawless selected to succeed Paul Lawless TD on Mayo County Council

Swinford/Claremorris municipal district set to have second female councillor in the area.

Schoolteacher Deirdre Lawless has been selected by Aontú to succeed her brother, Deputy Paul Lawless, on Mayo County Council.

A co-option was required after Paul Lawless recently became the first Aontú TD outside of party leader Peadar Tóibín.

A statement to The Connaught Telegraph read: “Deirdre Lawless is no stranger to Aontú or public service. A proud past pupil of Knock National School, Loughanemon Gaelscoil and Mount Saint Michael Secondary School in Claremorris, Deirdre has been a cornerstone of Aontú since its inception, playing a pivotal role in all of Paul Lawless’s campaigns since 2019.”

Deputy Paul Lawless expressed his confidence in her appointment, stating: “Deirdre is a force to be reckoned with — a committed, well-organised leader with a 'get it done' attitude. As a seasoned teacher and a proud Gaeilgeoir, she has a deep love for the Irish language, music and culture. She will bring a restless enthusiasm to her new role.

“I’m also delighted that her selection brings another strong female voice to Mayo County Council, increasing the number of female councillors in the county from three to four. It’s particularly significant that the Claremorris LEA now has two women out of its six councillors, showing progress in representation. An LEA that never had a female councillor six months ago now has two,” Lawless remarked.

Deirdre herself spoke of her excitement and determination: “It’s an honour to step into this role and work hard for the people of the Claremorris Local Electoral Area. I’ve stood alongside Paul on countless initiatives, from the cataract bus campaign to grassroots community efforts. This is an exciting new chapter for Aontú in Mayo, as we now have the foundations of a constituency office in Claremorris, where I will work closely with our TD and staff to deliver for the people of Mayo.

"I’m eager to sit down with my fellow councillors and hit the ground running — there’s a lot to do, and I’m ready to get started.”

Deirdre was selected following a transparent and inclusive selection process where members were given seven days to nominate candidates, after which a selection convention took place. Deirdre was chosen following a vote by Aontú Mayo members. Her candidacy has also been approved by the Ard Comhairle.

Her name will now go forward to Mayo County Council for formal ratification in the new year. This robust process ensures the voices of members are at the forefront of every decision.