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Jony Aza (IND)Jony Aza, originally from Bangladesh, has been living in Kilkenny for the past 20 years and is a first time candidate in the local election. If elected, he will advocate for ‘practical solutions’. Mr Aza works in the local hospitality sector and is married with six children, all of whom are Irish citizens. “Having lived and worked here for two decades, I have a deep understanding of the daily challenges that families face, including the rising cost of living and the ongoing housing crisis. These issues are close to my heart, and it is these very challenges that drive my commitment to serve our community in a greater capacity,” he said. He wants to address these concerns and to advocate for practical solutions that will improve the lives of all Kilkenny residents. “My experience and dedication to the community equip me to effectively represent and support you. I humbly seek your support and your vote in the upcoming elections. Together, we can work towards a more prosperous and equitable future for Kilkenny,” he said. Mr Aza’s candidacy is part of a rise in independent candidates nationally. Based on figures from earlier this month, over 500 candidates are competing in the local elections as independent candidates. It also sees a significant increase in the number of candidates of a migrant background running. The Immigrant Council of Ireland has identified over 100 candidates of a migrant background running in the upcoming local elections.
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Evan Barry (Sinn Fein)Sinn Fein representative Evan Barry is seeking a council seat for the very first time. Mr Barry currently works on Sinn Féin’s national policy advancement in Leinster House, a position he has held since November 2020. The city native holds a strong interest in history and politics, a passion he has had from a young age. Mr Barry is a former student of St Kieran’s College. Since being selected to run in Kilkenny City, the Sinn Fein candidate has pinpointed the local arts, transport and public amenities as objectives if elected. According to the local candidate, the improvement of traffic calming measures around the city is a necessity with stronger measures to keep local streets safe also a priority. Mr Barry wishes to see the vibrant reputation Kilkenny has to continue and stated he will call for more council funding to be directed towards grassroots artists if elected in June’s local elections. “If we want to encourage and incentivise up-and-coming artists, we need to support and engage with them,” he claimed. Mr Barry is also advocating for a playground around the Johnswell Road area for the benefit of local families and the addition of further bus stops and shelters around the city. He has previously raised concerns over the lack of bus services in estates near St Kieran’s Cemetery.
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Martin Brett (Fine Gael)Fine Gael representative, Cllr Martin Brett is seeking a second consecutive term in office. Cllr Brett has 20 years’ experience in public life and has served as Mayor of Kilkenny City five times, most recently in 2019, as deputy mayor on four occasions and leas cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council in 2020. The city councillor is Chair of the Joint Policing Committee and holds a position on the Board of the Kilkenny Leadership Programme. Cllr Brett’s other roles in the community include; co-founder of the Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre, Chairperson of the Lourdes Fund in St Patrick’s Parish and First Secretary of Scanlon Park/the Watershed. The election candidate spent the last five years at the council table after being in the political wilderness from 2014-19. Upon his return to the city council, the local landscape had changed with the former Borough Council of 12 councillors disbanded and reduced to seven in the Kilkenny Municipal District. If elected for a new term in the 2024-29 cycle, Cllr Brett pledges to work for the provision of more local housing and the completion of the ring road and brewery site. The Fine Gael councillor has also prioritised an SETU campus for Kilkenny, make the masterplan for St Canice’s Hospital ‘a reality’ and to ‘continue to improve Kilkenny as a great place to live and work’.
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Andrea Cleere (Labour)Trade Union official and Labour Party local election candidate Andrea Cleere says a great opportunity exists to grow the representation on Kilkenny County Council which is reflective of Kilkenny’s social demographic. The Labour hopeful has spent over two decades working as a trade official with SIPTU and is a mother of three children.Among the big issues, she says, is the current cost of living crisis, as well as things like parking and the need for more pedestrian crossings and cycle lanes. She says her core beliefs are steeped in socialism, natural justice, trade unionism and hard work — values which were instilled in by her family and the experiences of growing up in her community. “I continued to grow these values through my work in the trade union movement working for SIPTU and have over the last two decades honed my communication, negotiation and strategic thinking,” she said. “It is important that councillors are elected who possess the right skill for advocating on behalf of the people of Kilkenny. We need Kilkenny County Council to have a bit more diversity, we need more females elected across the council which will lead more equitable and considered decision making.” Ms Cleere previously contested the 2019 Local Election for the Labour Party also, where she received 301 First Preference votes (enough votes for expenses) and was eliminated on the 10th count.