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Willie Aird lifted into the air after being elected in Laois. Paul Dargan Photography

'It has to be my time': Willie Aird elected to the Dáil... after 45 years as a councillor

Charlie Flanagan’s retirement paved the way for Willie Aird to finally run for the Dáil.

LAST UPDATE | 30 Nov 2024

WILLIAM ‘WILLIE’ AIRD has topped the poll in Laois and been elected to the Dáil after 45 years as a councillor.

On the first count, Aird got 9,269 – putting him ahead of two sitting TDs, Seán Fleming (8,123) and Brian Stanley (6,782).

This put Aird just a few hundred beneath the quota of 9,570. On the fifth count, Aird made the breakthrough and was elected to Dáil Éireann with 9,619 votes.

The farmer and long-time councillor never ran for the Dáil before as it was Charlie Flanagan’s seat.

Flanagan was first elected as a TD in 1987 and won re-election several times in what was considered a safe seat for Fine Gael.

The former justice minister announced last year he was not seeking re-election, paving the way for Aird to finally run for a seat.

Aird was chosen as Fine Gael’s candidate in the constituency in September, and Flanagan endorsed him in a campaign video

Laois-Offaly was previously a five-seat constituency, but both counties are now individual three-seat constituencies.

A public rep since 1979

Aird has been a public representative since 1979, when he was first elected to Portlaoise Town Commission as the then-youngest Fine Gael representative in Ireland.

Following his election to Laois County Council and Portlaoise Town Commission in 1985, he has successfully contested each election since – he topped the poll in the Portlaoise Electoral Area in the last five local elections.

In a recent interview with Laois Today, Aird said: “I didn’t give [the Dáil] much thought over the years when Charlie was in place.

“He has been a great representative – as was his father before him – but I remember the day well when he announced his retirement. I thought ‘this has to be my time’.

“There were floods of people on to me saying ‘now is your time to go for it’. There was huge encouragement.”

Independent Brian Stanley – who topped the poll for Sinn Féin in 2020 – left the party mired in controversy last month.

A complaint was made against Stanley during the summer that initiated an inquiry within Sinn Féin. Stanley has denied any wrongdoing and made a counter-allegation.

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17 Comments
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    Mute Bill
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    May 17th 2013, 7:25 AM

    Vast majority of the population have no say in the makeup of the Seanad shut it down .

    26
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    Mute Sean O'Sullivan
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    May 17th 2013, 7:08 AM

    Reform me arse! Shut it down!

    22
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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    May 17th 2013, 7:26 AM

    If there were imperfections in the system why were they not ironed out by now ,did it suit to have them there .It,s jobs for the boy,s I think -put them on half pay like the rest of the working people and see
    how many of them turn up

    21
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    Mute Itiswhatitis
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    May 17th 2013, 7:36 AM

    If we could see value . They are just a talking house with no power . The Dail can listen or ignore recommendations. The seante should have the ability to veto and block things.

    13
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    Mute Godblessthecraic
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    May 17th 2013, 7:39 AM

    I can’t wait to vote for its abolition, that’s if Fine Gael keep their election promise……..they wouldn’t lie to get into power would they??

    18
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    Mute gerbreen
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    May 17th 2013, 8:05 AM

    The Seanad has offered little to its citizens for many a year. Reform is not on the agenda as far as the referendum is concerned and has been frowned upon for years. Like the Dail it has a small number of successful people in the real world but they are too few in number and restricted by the whip. Unless I have been missing all these great successes of the upper house – I will be voting for its removal

    16
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    Mute Itiswhatitis
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    May 17th 2013, 7:20 AM

    If I could see value I would be in favour however since FG got in no real change has happened so shut the place down.

    16
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    Mute John Campbell
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    May 17th 2013, 8:10 AM

    Sorry, Senators Quinn and Zappone nice try but the people will not fall for it. Starting debate about changing the Senate is simply a smoke screen to hide the obvious which is that we simply cannot afford it and it serves little purpose save to award political ‘friends’ or groom prospective TDs. I note the proposal is for an ‘in house’ vote to make the change with the citizenry allowed no say. A straight yes or no vote in a referendum will do nicely thank you .

    15
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    Mute Oisín Ó HAlmhain
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    May 17th 2013, 8:41 AM

    Perhaps the fact that the Seanad is used as a consolation prize by some people, and a place to raise profile and become TDs is part of the problem.
    If all seanad nominations had to be in before any Dáil General Election, and no sitting senator was allowed run for the Dáil, then the Seanad might have more respect.

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    Mute John Scott
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    May 17th 2013, 9:43 AM

    there has been lots of reports sitting some where in the big house on REFORM. so SENATORS Quinn Zappone may be u should have a read of them. now get rid if this house an use all 65000e that u all get put it to some good.

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    Mute Alan Burke
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    May 17th 2013, 7:34 AM

    There are more than enough TDs and high ranking civil servants to oversee the tasks outlined above. The Seanad has no place in our political system and should be abolished.

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    Mute Geraldine Lee
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    May 17th 2013, 7:10 AM

    Shitheads

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    Mute Irish Mule
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    May 17th 2013, 12:50 PM

    Can’t wait till this retirement home is shut down.

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    Mute Tom Brennan
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    May 17th 2013, 1:02 PM

    I read it like this “Seanad, …., blah blah, drone on about constitution, waffle, more sh!te talk, blah blah, here is my pay cheque thanks to you taxpayers…”

    Shut the bloody thing down – simples.

    6
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    Mute Scarr
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    May 17th 2013, 9:44 AM

    I’d like to see the Seanad shut down to make way for an innovation fund – one project fully funded for up to 4 years on Seanad money. Project would eventually have to be self funding. or We could start a entrepreneurialism course in school, or programming or product design. Much better uses of money.

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    Mute Brian O'Sullivan
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    May 17th 2013, 10:46 AM

    We can’t abolish the Seanad without seeing some real reform of the Dáil as well. It’s already too easy for the Government to railroad legislation through the Dáil thanks to the whip system, and removing the Seanad will make that even easier.

    If the Government set out their proposals for real reform of the Dáil before the referendum and put mechanisms in places that assure those reforms WILL go through once the Seanad is removed, then I’ll consider voting yes. Until then, I’m voting no, because I just don’t trust the Government being left completely to their own devices to do what’s best for the country.

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    Mute tax slave
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    May 17th 2013, 3:38 PM

    For a small country we are to top heavy . . Too many chiefs not enough Indians .

    3
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