Moate one of just two areas in Ireland with no female election candidatesMoate is one of only two local electoral areas in Ireland to have no female candidates contesting the upcoming council elections. See Her Elected, the Government-funded programme to promote female participation in politics, noted that there 677 female local election candidates nationally this year, making up 31% of the total. See Her Elected noted that county Roscommon has the lowest number of female candidates this year, at just 16% of the total. In the Moate electoral area, the four sitting councillors, Tom Farrell (Fine Gael), Vinny McCormack (Fianna Fáil), Liam McDaniel (Fianna Fáil) and Johnnie Penrose (Labour) are all seeking re-election, while Athlone-area councillor Paul Hogan (Independent Ireland) is running in both the Athlone and Moate electoral areas. Sinn Féin's John Lawlor, Shane Lynam of the Irish Freedom Party, and Michael O'Brien (Independent) are also hoping to win a seat in the Moate area.

Source: Irish Independent May 23, 2024 17:48 UTC