Pictures: Here are the candidates seeking your vote in Kilkenny Local Electoral Area

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.