Would you like to be a voice for your community and bring about change?
By becoming a county councillor, you can make a huge difference to the quality of life for people in your locality. See Her Elected is calling on women and from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect the local communities they serve to put themselves forward for the next local elections in June 2024.
You don’t need any experience or special qualifications. Your life experience, everyday skills, passion and commitment to people and communities are more than enough and it’s important that county councils reflect the local population.
Can you see yourself as a candidate in the 2024 local elections, but don’t know where to start? If you have made up your mind to run for election and want to have a practical toolkit covering everything you need to have a strategy plan for then sign up for a free in person event from See Her Elected in January and February 2024.
‘How to Run for Election: Your Campaign Toolkit, in a Day’ will take place on Saturday, January 20, and will be repeated on Saturday, February 24, in Longford Women’s Link from 11.15am to 3pm. Free childcare and free transport from Longford train/bus station is being provided as part of See Her Elected’s commitment to removing barriers to women participating in politics. Please get in touch to register your interest. Refreshments/lunch will also be provided on the day.
Anyone who attends the in-person event will also get a free copy of Ireland’s first and only election guide book: ‘See Her Elected Guide to Running in the 2024 Local Elections’.
Programme Manager with See Her Elected Dr Michelle Maher explained that the event is open to women from the Midlands region and nationwide who are planning to run as candidates in next year’s local elections.
“If you want to learn how to become a county councillor then come along and meet our panel of experts to get you election ready. Learn how to put your election campaign team together, election canvassing, campaigning, communications strategies and the all-important confidence and resilience factor to give you the edge.
“Longford Women’s Link operates an early year’s childcare service and a mobile creche which means free professional, Tulsa registered childcare services are also available on the day for those who require them.
“We are also delighted to be able to offer free transport to and from Longford train/bus station if required. Refreshments and lunch will also be provided on the day and it’s all completely free of charge,” Dr Maher said.
Currently only 26% of county councillors in Ireland are female and there is a stark under-representation of women in rural counties. For example, there are only four female councillors out of 37 in County Donegal while there are only two female councillors out of 30 in County Mayo. Roscommon County Council only has four female councillors out of 18 and since 1925 there have only ever been 11 women elected to Roscommon County Council while there have only ever been 6 women in total ever elected to Leitrim County Council since 1922.
Speakers for the event: ‘How to Run for Election: Your Campaign Toolkit, in a Day’ include Kathleen O’ Meara, Mairead O’ Shea and Kathryn McGrath.
Kathleen O’ Meara is a public affairs consultant and a former journalist and politician. She was a member of Seanad Eireann, North Tipperary County Council and Nenagh Town Council before taking up roles in the not-for-profit-sector. Kathleen will draw on her immeasurable knowledge of local elections to provide women with the practical nuts and bolts of their campaign and canvassing strategies.
Mairead O’ Shea is the Communications Manager for See Her Elected. A former journalist, media/PR consultant, Mairead was a former Editor of the Roscommon Herald. She has vast experience in the political arena and elections having previously worked as a Parliamentary Assistant for a TD. Mairead will work through the main points of a comprehensive communications strategy for the Local Elections 2024.
Kathryn McGrath from www.abccoaching.ie is a Resilience Coach, Trainer and Facilitator who collaborates with See Her Elected.
Kathryn’s workshop will focus on the drive, confidence, and resilience required for a local election campaign and to make an impact. Programme Manager with See Her Elected Dr Michelle Maher will act as MC for the event and will also join the experts for an extensive Questions and Answers session to round the day off.
For more information on the January and February events please visit www.seeherelected.ie and register your interest or phone 086 0320455.
