KILDARE: Green Party will seek six seats in local elections

The Green Party will seek six seats on Kildare County Council in the forthcoming local elections, which are likely to take place on June 7.

The party currently has two seats on the 40 seat authority.

Peter Hamilton from Maynooth, who won his seat in the last poll is the longest serving.

Cllr Hamilton got a little less than 11.5% of the vote in 2019 and he was fifth on the list of first preferences in  the Maynooth local electoral area.

He is known for his work in addressing climate change and is a very frequent contributor to initiatives and debates surrounding climate addiction. He has also worked to support Ukrainian refugees who have fled the war for Ireland as well as international protection applications.

He worked to have Maynooth nominated as the county’s first decarbonising zone, a six year project aimed at rehabilitating the climate.

More recently Naas-based Cllr Bob Quinn was coopted. He replaced Cllr Colm Kenny who stood down last April citing work pressures.

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This means that this will be the first electoral test for Cllr Quinn, who has promoted health, education and climate initiatives. He is also closely associated with a campaign for a project aimed at creating more public realm space in Naas town centre and making the area much more amenable for pedestrians and cyclists.

Dr Lorraine Benson will represent the party in the Kildare town area. She is a widely known and respected ecologist working in County Kildare. She also has a PhD in Regional Policy and has served as chairperson of the Kildare Green Party branch, is chair of the National Peatlands Park group and an active member of Birdwatch Ireland.

Ronan Maher will carry the GP party banner in Newbridge. He is an IT professional who represented the Green Party in Kildare South in the 2020 General Election. He has been deputy chair of the Kildare branch for the past two years and has been an advocate for active travel in Kildare.

Barrister Peter Paul Hughes will run in Celbridge. He has taken cases to advocate for children and people with disabilities to secure their rights and says he understands the importance of listening to people and making sure their interests are effectively represented. He says he’s determined to work on reducing road deaths and to “make the streets of Celbridge safer for everyone, whether they are going for a walk or cycling to school.”

Imran Ali runs in Leixlip and holds a Bachelor's degree and a Masters degree in Business and Marketing. He has  immersed himself in charity and community work in the north

Kildare and west Dublin area for a number of years. He is married to a human rights lawyer who does pro bono work showcasing their shared commitment to making the world a better place.