Pilkington says council is “crying out for more female engagement”

One of the two Fine Gael candidates selected to contest the Local Elections in the Birr electoral area next May has said Offaly County Council is “crying out for more female engagement” and this is especially important when issues are being addressed on behalf of women, young children and their families.

Birr businesswoman and community activist, Marian Pilkington, will join outgoing Councillor John Clendennen on the FG ticket for the local elections in the Birr area after they were both selected at the party's Selection Convention in Dooly's Hotel on Thursday night last.

Ms Pilkington, who is married to well-known local businessman, Frank Pilkington and has a six-year old son, successfully spearheaded the Birr Christmas Market last December which raised over €8,000 for Birr Tidy Towns and already has plans in motion for the market next Christmas. The youngest of seven children, and a native of Birr, she said she was “delighted and honoured to represent Fine Gael in the upcoming elections” and to be joining Cllr Clendennen on the Party ticket.

Kinnitty-based Cllr Clendennen, who was first elected to the Council in 2014 after his father, Percy, stepped down and served as Vice-Chairman two years later, urged party members to once again give him the opportunity to continue working for Offaly and with the exisiting FG team “and hopefully a few new faces” after the local elections on May 24 next.

Addressing the convention, which was chaired by Sean Kelly, MEP for Ireland South, Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy reminded delegates that Fine Gael held three Council seats in the Birr area for many years, and she said the party must ensure that it wins back seats on Offaly County Council “to ensure effective representation for the people of Birr and West Offaly.”

The directive from party headquarters to the convention stipulated that two candidates were to be selected with the Executive Council reserving the right to add candidates at a later date.