Kathryn reilly throws name into general election hat for sf
Senator Kathryn Reilly says she will put her name in the hat for the General Election, which already brings the number of confirmed hopefuls for the Cavan-Monaghan constituency to nine.
It is understood, the young Sinn Féiner will learn in the next two months on how many candidates the party will run in each constituency and just who will go forward.
The Ballyjamesduff senator became a member of the upper house at just 22 in 2011 - the youngest member ever elected - and has been campaigning for the extension of the voting age down to 16, as recommended by the Constitutional Convention.
The 26-year-old read a segment from her own diary - written when 16 - on Prime Time: “'Not treated with enough respect, not taken seriously solely because of their age and social standing’ and made the case for the reduction in voting age.’”
Sen Reilly is pursuing her second Masters - Public affairs in UCD - and is big on enfranchising the youth vote but there doesn’t seem to be such an appetite in government for the same.
That vote extension would also benefit the former parliamentary assistant to Arthur Morgan who, nearly a full first term into her seat would still remain, by a distance, the youngest candidate, should she be selected.
Confirmed interest
It brings to nine the number of confirmed interests for the Cavan-Monaghan constituency, who are: Fine Gaelers Deputy Joe O’Reilly from Bailieborough, Arts Minister Heather Humphreys and Deputy Sean Conlan, Fianna Fáil’s TD Brendan Smith and councillors Bailieborough’s Niamh Smyth and Monaghan’s Seamus Coyle, Sinn Féin health spokesperson Caoimhghín ” Caoláin and ex-Garda and penalty points whistleblower John Wilson.
Independent thinking
That election had also been targeted by Mr Wilson but his health - he is recovering from cancer - prevented his run.
He stood out on the locals but would surely have been the only independent in with a decent shot in a constituency that votes along traditional party lines.
On the mend, he was named as Independent MEP Luke 'Ming’ Flanagan’s alternate for Europe last year and has campaigned on turf-cutting rights and garda issues. On the May polling day, he attended counts around the country in support of Mr Flanagan and ruled out any contact with Lucinda Creighton’s new party.
He has also appeared as a witness in the Ian Bailey case - Mr Bailey is suing the state for wrongful arrest - and gave evidence around Pulse entries on Mr Bailey.
His national standing makes him the most logical of any local independents considering running and he has always said he intends to do so, adding that if he was to ever join a party it would be Sinn Féin but he remains an independent.