Laois Fine Gael Dáil hopeful becomes solicitor

A Laois Fine Gael county councillor who harbours bigger ambitions in politics has officially become a solicitor.

Cllr Conor Bergin took to social media to reveal his entry into the legal profession after training since the Covid-19 pandemic in a Portlaoise practice.

"I am delighted to officially qualify as a solicitor and have my name added to the roll of Solicitors by the Law Society of Ireland this week.

"Having sat my first FE-1 exam in 2020, this is the end of a long process of hard work, study and learning. I am looking forward to practising as a newly qualified solicitor," he said.

The Borris-in-Ossory native follows in the footsteps of his former employer, Charlie Flanagan, who is also a solicitor. Cllr Bergin worked for a time as a parliamentary assistant to the former Fine Gael Minister in the Departments of Justice, Foreign Affairs and Children. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Cllr Bergin and Willie Aird at a local election event in 2024 when both were running to retain their seats on Laois County Council.

Cllr Bergin represents the Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District and had hoped to succeed his former employer in Leinster House at the 2024 General Election when Mr Flangan retired from politics.

While Cllr Bergin withdrew at the Fine Gael General Election selection convention, he has made it clear he intends to run to represent Laois in the Dáil at a future national poll.

He was first elected to Laois County Council in 2019 and was reelected in 2020.

Willie Aird took a Dáil seat for Fine Gael in the 2024 General Election after Cllr Bergin withdrew.