Two thirds of Fine Gael’s Local Elections 2024 candidates are women

Fine Gael will be running nine candidates across Louth next year, having concluded its final selection conventions in Drogheda last night (Thursday).

The party will be running six female candidates and three men to represent the five electoral areas in Louth.

Marian Agrios and Ejiro O’Hare Stratten were the two final candidates to be selected at a convention chaired by Senator Emer Currie and will represent the Drogheda Rural and Drogheda Urban electoral areas respectively.

Ejiro O’Hare Stratten has worked in the healthcare industry for more than 33 years.

She received her nursing training in Drogheda and has a degree in Human Resource management from the National college of Ireland.

She also has master's degrees in Employment Law (UCD)and Health service management (TCD).

Her passion and dedication to community service earned her the recognition for Outstanding Individual Award from Louth PPN this year.

“I am grateful for this opportunity to promote active citizen engagement through participation,” she said.

“Through my involvement with youth groups in Drogheda, I will be working to provide additional amenities for the youth in Drogheda, as well as more diversity, equity, and inclusion training in schools.

"I also want to address concerns being expressed by business owners locally, while encouraging a cleaner, safer environment for all."

Marian Agrios has lived in Termonfeckin for 25 years with her husband and three children.

She represented parents on the Parents Council of her local primary school for two years, after which she completed two terms on the Board of Management.

She was an active member of the administration team at Termonfeckin Tennis Club for a number of years, as well as the town’s Lions’ Club, of which she has acted as President.

“I come from a farming family in Kerry, with a strong Fine Geal background and I took those values with me to Termonfeckin 25 years ago when I settled down to raise my family.

"My work within my local community has prompted me to take this step into local politics – where I hope if successful, I can achieve more for my own area.”

Speaking after the convention, Senator Emer Currie said: “I’m delighted to see such a strong ticket now on the field for Fine Gael in Louth.

"We have candidates with immense calibre that already have a proven track record of delivering for their communities.

"I’m particularly pleased to see so many female candidates running for the Local Elections in 2024.

"While there are no gender quotas in place for these elections, the fact is that we are increasingly seeing more women keen to get involved in politics is extremely positive.

"Diversity and inclusion matter and must be the bedrock of our democracy. I wish all candidates well in their election campaigns.”