Athlone native's election tilt for Aontú in Galway

An Athlone native who is part of a well-known political family has announced he will be running for election for Peadar Tóibín's Aontú party in Galway city.

Pádraig Lenihan, who describes himself as "a proud Athlone man", is a nephew and godson of former Fianna Fáil Government Minister Mary O'Rourke, and a cousin of Cllr Aengus O'Rourke.

The Aontú cumann in Galway recently selected him as its candidate for Galway's city central ward in next year's local elections.

A past pupil of St Aloysius College, Pádraig grew up in Talbot Avenue, Athlone, until the age of twelve, when the family moved to Hodson Bay.

He said he had been good friends with his first cousin, the late Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan, and that he meets up with Cllr Aengus O'Rourke from time to time.

"Mary O'Rourke is my Godmother and, fair play to her, she rang me the other day to wish me well," he told the Westmeath Independent.

"I don't know whether she'd agree with my politics one way or another, but certainly she wished me well. She is a lovely lady and I'm very fond of her."

Padraig's father, Paddy Lenihan, was a former county councillor in Roscommon who died in 2010. Mr Lenihan served as a councillor for 17 years, between 1974 and 1991.

He was first elected as a member of Fianna Fáil, but subsequently became affiliated with the breakaway 'Independent Fianna Fáil' grouping led by Neil Blaney.

Padraig is a retired Army captain who lectures in history in the University of Galway and lives in the Newcastle area of the city. He said he would be retiring shortly and felt the time was right for an election bid.

"We are a small party and, in the city central ward in Galway, we were looking for somebody who's living in the ward, is willing to run, and has the time and energy to give to it," he said.

"I am in my early 60s, and still have a bit of juice in the tank, so I decided I'd do it. At an earlier stage in my life I couldn't have even thought about it."

Despite his family's Fianna Fáil connections, he said he had never been a member of the party himself.

"I joined Aontú about three years ago. I don't want to be knocking other parties, but I feel quite strongly that (Aontú) speak for me," he said.