Laois Fine Gael man fails to make national political breakthrough

Laois County Councillor Conor Bergin has failed his bid to enter national politics after falling well short in the Seanad elections.

The Borris-in-Ossory native was eliminated after the fifth county after securing less than 20% of votes cast in the Administrative panel.

His Senate candidacy was widely rumoured after he pulled out of the race to be Fine Gael's candidate in the General Election at the last minute in 2024.

To the surprise of many Fine Gael members, Cllr Bergin announced that would step aside to allow a clear run for Willie Aird after being nominated and seconded at the selection Convention. Mr Aird went on to top the poll at the General Election.

The speculation around his Seanad ambitions materialised at the end of 2024 when he declared his intentions to compete for a seat. 

His short-term national political prospects now depend on Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Táinaiste Simon Harris. The Taoiseach will nominate members to the Senate.  MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Borris-in-Ossory Community Development Association chairman David Fitzpatrick, Conor Bergin, then Laois County Council Cathaoirleach, and Anne Marie Maher, Sports and Leisure Officer Laois County Council at the launch of the Borris in Ossory Playground in 2022. Pic: Alf Harvey

Cllr Bergin entered politics in 2019 after working as a parliamentary assistant for former Fine Gael TD and minister Charlie Flanagan. Clllr Bergin won a seat at his first attempt on Laois County Council in the 2019 local elections representing the Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District.

He was comfortably returned to County Hall from the district at the 2024 locals with an improved mandate from the voters having topped the poll in the District.

A legal professional, the Borris-in-Ossory native was the youngest-ever Councillor to be elected Chairperson of Laois County Council in 2021.

The Fine Gael man was one of two Laois-based people to contest the 2025 Seanad Éireann elections. Maria McCormack took a seat on the Labour Panel with the support of Sinn Féin.

Her elections brought to four the number of politicians from Laois in Leinster House. Willie Aird, Seán Fleming and Brian Stanley are the sitting TDs. Laois has no ministerial presence in Government.

There are 60 Members of Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the Oireachtas, and they are elected to five vocational panels and from two university constituencies, or they are nominated by the Taoiseach.

The main function of the Seanad is to debate legislation proposed by the Government. The Seanad can amend a Bill that has been passed by the Dáil and delay, but not stop, it becoming law.