Soc Dems pick councillor to replace leader Catherine Murphy in Kildare North
Kildare’s elected Social Democrats at Ardclough Community Centre, following the nomination of colleague Cllr Aidan Farrelly to replace former party leader, and outgoing TD for Kildare North Catherine Murphy.
Cllr Aidan Farrelly has been selected by the Social Democrats to represent the party in Kildare North in the next general election.
This follows the decision by co-founder and leader of the party, and the sitting TD for Kildare North Catherine Murphy, to stand down after more than 30 years in politics.
Aidan is a second-term county councillor representing Clane LEA, and was selected to run by the local branch at a selection convention in Ardclough Community Centre last week (Wednesday, July 24).
Aidan is a resident of Prosperous, having grown up in Clane, and is a lecturer in the department of Applied Social Studies in Maynooth University.
He is former a youth and community development worker and team leader with Kildare Youth Services, and opened the first youth poject in Clane in 2008.
Since then he has worked in many communities throughout Kildare including Naas, Celbridge, Kilcock, Leixlip, Straffan, Maynooth, Prosperous and others.
Aidan is married to Aisling and they have three children.
He says that his experience of having a young family in North Kildare has encouraged him to seek change with issues such as childcare, access to education and lack of affordable housing contributing to his commitment to a fairer, more equal society.
Speaking after the selection convention, clr Farrelly said: “I’m delighted, humbled and honoured to have been selected by the branch.
“I have big boots to fill following on from Catherine Murphy’s long service to her constituents and I look forward to getting stuck into the campaign to make sure the people of Kildare North continue to have a Social Democrat representing them.”
Welcoming Aidan’s selection, Deputy Catherine Murphy said: “I am delighted that we have a candidate the calibre of Aidan Farrelly nominated to run for the Social Democrats in Kildare North.
“If elected, he will be an incredible representative for the people of this constituency in Leinster House.
“Aidan is one of the most ethical people I’ve come across, a passion I share – and he will be great advocate for the change that we need in Kildare North and in Ireland.
“I wish him every success in his campaign and look forward to working with him to encourage the people of Kildare North to once again elect a Social Democrat TD.”
