Local senator to attend party Think-in

Cavan Senator Sarah O’Reilly will be among the delegates travelling to attend this year’s Aontú Annual National ‘Think-In’, set to take place in Maynooth on Saturday, September 13.

Last year’s inaugural event was hosted in Sen O’Reilly’s home constituency at Cavan Town’s Hotel Kilmore. Then still a councillor, Sen O’Reilly went on to stand for General Election in November and, following that, secured her nomination to the Oireachtas’ Upper House.

Her partner, Adrian Rogers, has since been co-opted to seat made vacant on Cavan County Council. She’ll join other representatives from the Mary Reilly Cumann in Cavan to have their voice heard in helping shape the party’s direction for the year ahead.

Central themes for discussion at this year’s think-in will include economic justice, the protection of life, and national unity - key pillars of Aontú’s platform.

Ahead of the event, Senator O’Reilly reflected on the party’s progress since its inception in the wake of leader Peadar Tobín leaving Sinn Féin.

Sen O’Reilly, who herself was co-opted onto the council in place of now Fianna Fáil Minister for State Niamh Smyth, quit the party in 2018 citing a “serious disconnect” between leadership and grassroot members, particularly in relation to their stance on the repeal referendum.

“As Aontú enters its seventh year, the Annual National ‘Think In’ stands as a testament to our resilience, growth, and unwavering principles,” she said, noting that Aontú had “come a long way” with three members in Leinster House and eight county councillors .

“Given that Ireland’s history with small and new parties is quite chequered this is some feat. People who were politically ‘homeless’ have joined us in numbers, attracted by our unwavering and consistent messages of common sense, life, unity and economic justice.”

She went on to stated that Aontú’ s record “speaks for itself”.

“From the beginning, our party has consistently held government to account - demanding transparency and policies that serve the public interest. This relentless commitment is matched by hard work,” she said.