‘It’s either Shane P. or Sinn Féin!’
Independent councillors announces Dáil run
Local Independent councillor and former Fianna Fáil representative, Shane P O’Reilly, has announced his intention to run for the Dáil at the next General Election.
Cllr O’Reilly made the announcement at a public meeting in St Kilian’s Heritage Centre in his hometown of Mullagh on Monday night last, November 28, a week after formally joining the Rural Independent Group.
The theme of the meeting was the crippling impact of cost-of-living pressures on rural communities across Cavan/Monaghan and North Meath, and it also touched on a range of other issues from hospital waiting lists, to transport and roads, as well as agriculture.
Chaired by former Senator John Hanafin, guest speakers included the leader of the Rural Independent Group of TDs, Mattie McGrath, Richard O’Donoghue TD from Limerick, Michael Collins TD from Cork, and Senator Sharon Keogan from Meath.
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In June 2020, Cllr O’Reilly quit the Fianna Fáil party citing “irreconcilable differences” with national party leadership and the direction in which it is moving.
By doing so, he became the second Cavan county councillor to leave the party in as many years after Sarah O’Reilly joined Aontú in 2018.
“The ongoing cost-of-living crisis is having a much bigger impact on all rural dwellers. Across this region people are being hit hard by record high fuel and electricity costs. All in all, rural residents are feeling the brunt of the cost-of-living pressures, following years of under-investment and a lack of State support to create jobs outside Dublin,” he said.
He described his alignment with the Rural Independent Group as a “natural fit”, but maintains that he “remains an Independent. I have no access to national offices or anything like that, so this is a positive partnership”.
He says the situation for voters next election is “simple”.
“If people want an alternative in Government it’s either Shane P or Sinn Féin! There are people who are members of government parties all their lives, no more than I was, who find themselves very disenchanted with the direction taken and, if people want change, certainly someone who is not shy, is very vocal, well then my name will be on the ticket when that election comes round.”
Cllr O’Reilly earned the highest number of first preference votes in the Ballyjamesduff electoral area in the local elections in May 2019.
He is record breaking in that the married dad-of-five has served as Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council twice - 2014 and 2019 - all before reaching the age of 40.
He also previously served on Fianna Fail’s national executive and ran, but failed, to win a seat in the past two Seanad elections.