Solidarity co‑opts Kate Relihan to Fingal County Council seat

Fingal County Council has co‑opted Kate Relihan as a councillor for the Castleknock ward, filling the vacancy left by Helen Redwood.

Redwood, a Solidarity councillor who represented the Castleknock constituency, stepped down for health reasons after inheriting the seat from TD Ruth Coppinger. Relihan, a teacher based in Dublin 15, will serve the remainder of the mandate won by Coppinger in the 2024 local elections.

Relihan said she was honoured to be chosen by Solidarity and thanked Redwood for her service, wishing her a full recovery. She highlighted her local roots, noting she has lived, worked and raised a family in Dublin 15 and will represent the people of Castleknock, Clonsilla and Blakestown‑Mountview.

Among her priorities, Relihan identified affordable and social housing as a pressing need for workers, disabled people, older residents and young adults staying at home. She called on Fingal County Council to develop its landbanks to deliver such homes and pledged to work with fellow councillor John Burtchaell and Ruth Coppinger TD on the Dunsink plan.

Relihan also said her experience as a teacher and member of the INTO informs her focus on childcare, cost‑of‑living, education, gender‑based violence and rising racism in the Dublin 15 area.

Source: Dublin People. Photo: Christian Wasserfallen / Pexels.