Portlaoise can't be left open to any ‘Tommy, Jimmy or anti-vax looper’

Pictured front Cllr Willie Aird sits with his proposer Martin McDonald and seconder Cllr Barry Walsh at the Fine Gael General Election Convent in POrt

placeholder image — Pictured front Cllr Willie Aird sits with his proposer Martin McDonald and seconder Cllr Barry Walsh at the Fine Gael General Election Convent in POrt

Fine Gael members warned that Cllr Willie Aird will make up the minds of independents

Fine Gael members were warned that they could not risk allowing votes to be lost in Portlaoise at the General Election.

The caution was delivered to the large gathering of members by Martin McDonald in the Killeshin Hotel when he proposed Cllr Willie Aird to become the party's choice of candidate to replace Charlie Flanagan in the Dáil.

“The Aird name is synonymous with the town of Portlaoise and it is vital that Fine Gael do not leave Portlaoise wide open at the next election.

“Any Tommy, Jimmy or anti-vax looper who fancies themselves as a TD could pop their heads up,” he said at the Fine Gael General Election convention.

Mr McDonald said he has already read that some independents could run in the election.

“I say let us make their minds up for them by selecting Willie Aird,” he said to applause.

Mr McDonald added that it is “no wonder” either the Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin do not want to see the Aird name on the ballot paper.

Mr McDonald said it was important that his party select somebody who has the best chance of winning the seat.

“Willie Aird's name is known the length and breadth of this county, through farming, IFA, greyhounds, politics but most importantly he is known as a hard worker.

“His cows might be milked a bit late but they are milked,” he said of farmer Aird.

Mr McDonald said Cllr Aird has worked hard to represent the public and farm.

“A lesser man might have quit either job, politics or farming, a long time ago,” he said.

Mr McDonald said Cllr Aird would not have topped the poll at successive elections unless he was a hard worker.

Mr McDonald reminded the gathering that Cllr Aird had been in politics since 1979 when aged 21. He also recalled that Cllr Aird's grandfather William was a TD. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Paddy Buggy, Cllr Willie Aird and Cllr Barry Walsh. Pic: Denis Byrne

Mr McDonald summed up Cllr Aird as a "political strategist's dream" who is a “politically experienced proven poll-topper living in the middle of the largest urban centre which is in the heart of the county”.

Cllr Aird was seconded by his Portlaoise Municipal District colleague on Laois County Council Cllr Barry Walsh.

Cllr Aird subsequently was selected after the shock withdrawal of Cllr Conor Bergin. Paddy Buggy also pulled out. The party reserves the right to add another name to its Laois General Election ticket.

The convention took place on Thursday, September 5 in Portlaoise.