Aisling Moran declares as general election candidate in Laois

AISLING Moran has declared she is contesting for one of the three seats in Laois in the forthcoming general election.

Her election campaign launch takes place in Christy Farrell’s, Killeen at 8pm on Saturday 9 November.

The outspoken councillor from the Graiguecullen/Portarlington Municipal District Council area said she was encouraged to run by the amount of offers of support she received right across the county.

Highly respected for her forthright views on accountability, value for money and transparency the Killeen/Ballylinan based councillor said she was running as a candidate to give the electorate in Laois “a real choice, an alternative voice, and a credible option for change.” 

She said: “I don’t believe anyone is entitled to a Dáil seat. I put the public interest ahead of any personal ambition or party loyalties, that’s why I am an Independent. People talk a lot about change and wanting change. Well, if you want change, you must vote for it, and change starts here.” 

 She continued: “There has been a woeful waste of the taxpayer’s money. The Children’s Hospital costs quadrupling, and the infamous Dáil bicycle shed are just two examples, the tip of the iceberg, but no one is ever held to account.

“Who signed off on the Children’s Hospital, the current Taoiseach, Simon Harris, who wants to pretend that everything is honky dory and buy off the electorate with a splurge of double-week payments. Meanwhile businesses are going to the wall, the cost of living is gone through the roof, the housing crises just gets worse and the waiting lists and pressure on the health service and frontline staff are more acute than ever, while our young people once they qualify are voting with their feet and emigrating in their droves. Not a sausage in the Budget for our students or to help retain and recruit crucial staff such as nurses, guards, and teachers.

“I have solutions and a vision for a better way, and a safer more secure, more sustainable society. Yet, when you try to put forward these views, ask the hard questions the government parties circle the wagons and attempt to bully you into backing off. Well, I won’t be silenced or deterred and will continue to always serve the public interest rather than the vested interests.” 

She said: “I am humbled and grateful for the fantastic support I received in my own community in the local elections earlier this year and the general election provides a great opportunity for Laois to shake up the cosy consensus and the same old, some old and put an independent woman in the Dáil who will put people first. Independents will have a big say in the formation of the next government and I want Laois to have a strong voice at that table.” 

Aisling Moran was born and bred in Laois, the daughter of the late John and Loretta Moran, both passed away in 2022 and 2023 and the eldest of five children. She is married to Fiona and have three children, Charlie (23) Alex (21) and Millie (17).

Businesswoman and county councillor, she said: “I have spent most my adult life self-employed and currently Fiona and I own a Travel Agency, Polari Travel in Athy which is managed by our daughter Alex. We specialise in group tours and bespoke travel itineraries.

“I have been involved in politics from a very young age. My Dad, John Moran, was a Fine Gael Councillor in Laois for 28 years and I suppose my love of politics came from him, equally my love of travel. He retired in May 2019 and then I had the opportunity to fulfil my love of helping people and asking the questions I felt needed asking and decided to run in the local elections for the Graiguecullen/Portarlington Municipal District as a Fine Gael candidate.” 

She said: “My reason for running for election was my desire to help people who were not being heard. People that maybe didn’t have the confidence to speak up for themselves and for those that were speaking up, but just were not listened to. I have a voice and I was going to use it.

“In 2019 as a Fine Gael candidate, I got elected on the seventh count with 1,398 votes. I remained in Fine Gael for the next four years, but felt I had to leave the party due to consistent lack of support from party colleagues when asking questions to the council about public spending and looking for costings of projects which involved the spending of taxpayers’ money.

“I left Fine Gael and became an Independent councillor, where I felt I could continue the work I got elected to do. I got into politics to work for the public and not for a party or Laois County Council.

“In the 2024 elections this summer, as an independent candidate, I increased my first preference vote by 247 votes, and elected with 1,633 votes. I now sit on the technical group in Laois County Council.”