Sinn Féin's Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh eager to start election campaign after Ryan controversy

DESPITE the cloud over her party that saw incumbent local TD Patricia Ryan and 11 local members resign last week, cllr Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh was selected on Tuesday night (15 October) as the sole Sinn Féin candidate for the Kildare South constituency.

When speaking with Ms Ní Raghallaigh following her selection The Kildare Nationalist asked her about the local situation.

“Absolutely nothing happened between myself and Patiricia, and honestly, I really don’t know her all that well,” she said.

“I was nominated by my own cumann, ratified by the comhairle, and I really expected us to go to the convention together, but nothing happened between us at all."

Cllr Ní Raghallaigh (41) is a primary school teacher in Kildare town and mother of four, who won her maiden election to Kildare County Council from the Kildare LEA at the local elections in June.

Cllr Ní Raghallaigh is a fluent gaelgoir, and it was pleasantly refreshing to her herself and meetings administrator Josh Hannigan converse easily in ár teanga féin at last month’s municipal district meeting.

The convention was held in the Clanard Court Hotel in Athy, and was attended by members from all over south Kildare, as well as Louise O'Reilly TD and Daire Hughes MP, both of whom spoke on the night.

Cllr Ní Raghallaigh was proposed by Kildare North TD Réada Cronin and seconded by former county councillor Thomas Redmond, who both spoke of the support available from local Cumainn, and the hard work ahead over the next few weeks.

In accepting the nomination, cllr Ní Raghallaigh expressed deep gratitude and a strong commitment to the community of Kildare South.

"It is a privilege to stand as your Sinn Féin councillor in Kildare. I am incredibly proud of our community, and I am committed to being the strong voice we need, for everyone in Kildare South."

She touched briefly on the local controversy.

“The only way that any Sinn Féin member can expect to have the honour of being selected to run for our party is by putting yourself forward at a selection convention, and seeking the mandate of party members and peers,” she said. "We must now regroup and get down to work for the people of this constituency."

In a subject dear to her heart, cllr Ní Raghallaigh also took the opportunity to acknowledge the current events unfolding in Palestine, expressing solidarity with those participating in an emergency protest at the Dáil.

“Many of my friends and comrades send their apologies as they have joined an unplanned, emergency protest in response to the crisis that continues to unfold in Palestine.

“They are there, demanding that our government take meaningful action, any action, against the atrocities happening in the region. And I thank them for it.” 

Cllr Ní Raghallaigh outlined Sinn Féin’s vision for Kildare South, focusing on addressing critical issues like housing, the cost of living crisis, and affordable childcare.

“Sinn Féin has the plans to bring home ownership back into reach for ordinary workers and families, to tackle the cost of living crisis, to make childcare affordable, to give our young people a chance to live in Ireland and build their future, and to unite our country.