'It makes me feel like I'm doing something right' Labour's only Laois councillor
Marie Tuohy elected to the Portlaoise seat she took on after husband retired
The only Irish Labour Party local representative seat in Laois has been retained, after Cllr Marie Tuohy, co-opted by the party last year, won it in full in the Laois County Council Local Election 2024.
Cllr Tuohy had replaced husband Noel who stepped down during his five year term due to ill health, so it was her first time to run in an election.
Noel and Cllr Marie Tuohy awaiting election results in the Laois count centre. Photo: Leinster Express
“I’m very happy, I feel privileged that the general public trusted me. While I’d been working with Noel when he was a councillor, I am a first time candidate.
“It makes me feel I’ve done something right and I want to keep doing that. It’s important to me.
“Being in the count centre is a rollercoaster of emotions. I’ve been here before with Noel, but it’s interesting to see it all unfold,” she said.
She focussed her canvass in Portlaoise where she lives and works, but also hit spots elsewhere in the district like Raheen, Abbeyleix and Ballinakill.
“Before on the doorsteps I wasn’t the person doing the talking. I found no negativity, I haven’t had one unpleasant experience,” she said.
She was co-opted to Noels seat 16 months ago.
“I observed for a while but now when I have something to say, I say it. The staff in the council are so helpful. When I ask questions there’s never an issue.
“It might sound twee but it is all about people. I like interacting with people. I like that this job can make a difference, like gathering a focus group to try bring back Portlaoise meals on wheels, or making the town autism friendly,” she said.
Marie and Noel Tuohy visiting son Zach and family in Australia.
“I’m very proud of her, it was a battle against two strong candidates in major parties, Naeem Iqbal and Thomasina Connell,” Noel said.
“The phone is hopping from Australia, I’d love them to be here, its a big day,” Marie said.
Cllr Tuohy shares what she hopes to achieve in Portlaoise Municipal District over the coming five year term.
“I’d like to see more houses, more school places, GPs. We are getting a new bus service and that’s welcome but I am also pushing to get the regional sports complex. It starts with the acquisition of a site. There are agencies after that who can deliver the centre. I am hoping in five years that we will be admiring a new sports complex,” she said.