By Dan Walsh
Wexford County Council and Women for Election recently hosted an introductory session in the Council Chamber, Wexford County Council to launch a training programme to support women who are interested in running for election in 2024 or in future elections.
Over twenty-five attendees enjoyed a programme of speakers which included Cllr Maura Bell, Chairperson of the Women’s Coalition and Cllr Kathleen Codd Nolan who shared her experience of being a female councillor for the past twenty years.
Wexford County Council Archivist Gráinne Doran gave a talk on Ellen ‘Nell’ Ryan who was the first female councillor elected to Wexford County Council in June 1928. Nell had also been a member of Wexford Board of Guardians (and chairman of same in 1920) in addition to her active participation in the revolutionary struggle, 1916-23.
Brian Sheehan, CEO of Women for Election stated; “We all know of extraordinary women who are the lifeblood of communities and community organisations across Wexford County and this programme will encourage and support many of these women to bring their community knowledge, experience, and skills to where decisions about their communities are made – Wexford County Council.”
The training programme aims to inspire and encourage women to stand in the upcoming Local Elections in June 2024, or in the future and is part of a national programme to achieve gender balance in politics. It also is aimed at the team behind the candidate as there are many ways to support female candidates.
With just six women of the 34 Councillors in Wexford, it is believed there is a distance yet to go and there is a ‘one-in-five-year’ chance in the coming local elections in June to begin to redress this imbalance.
“The launch event showed a huge appetite among women in Wexford to serve their communities by entering local politics and also showcased the great work being done, cross-party, by the Women’s Coalition on the Council,” stated Mr. Sheehan, who added; “This next election cycle carries a great opportunity for the voters of Wexford to reshape their local council, and to make significant inroads in addressing the imbalance on the council, where just 18% of the councillors (6 of 34) are women.”
Further information on the training programme is available from http://www.womenforelection.ie and at wwww.wexfordcoco.ie.
WexfordLocal.com 