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Tom McDonnell is an independent local councillor who represents Newbridge in County Kildare, Ireland.
Tom McDonnell | |
|---|---|
| Kildare County Councilor | |
| Assumed office June 2024 | |
| Constituency | Newbridge |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1962 or 1963 (age 61–62)[1] |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Children | 5 |
| Occupation | Builder |
| Website | https://eiresaor.ie/tom-mcdonnell/ |
Politics
editIn the 2024 Kildare County Council elections, McDonnell ran as an independent candidate. He co-founded Eire Saor, an "unregistered umbrella group of like minded independent [local election] candidates" running in the Newbridge area.[2] McDonnell received 548 first preference votes and was elected on the 11th count,[3] following the allocation of transfers after the elimination of Aontú's Melissa Byrne.[4]
He stated on TikTok[when?] that he would run in the next Irish general election.[citation needed]
Controversies
editCampaigning
editMcDonnell attracted controversy when he said that Irish women should "breed" more and that "Our women are only breeding 1.5 or 1.6 children".[5] He subsequently defended his comments stating that the word "breed" is "not offensive in any way".[2] McDonnell later apologised for how he "phrased his views", stating that he has "no problem with mixed-raced relationships" as "most black women have fine bodies".[6]
While several of McDonnell's immediate family have immigrated into other countries,[7] he has criticised the level of immigration into Ireland.[8] McDonnell has stated that "1.1 Million Irish people have left and we've brought in between 1.4 million to 1.5 million".[8] While he is reputedly "not against immigrants", he has reportedly stated that "we will not let people into this country that are going to damage our women and children, and destroy our country".[9]
Criminal record
editAs of June 2024, McDonnell was awaiting sentence for breaking the windows of another man's home in Blackrock, South Dublin in 2022. Sentencing in the case is due on 7 October 2024.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b "Controversial councillor Tom McDonnell awaits sentence over smashed windows at property in south Dublin". Irish Independent. 2024-06-23. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
- ^ a b "Final councillor elected in Ireland defends comments saying that women need to 'breed' more". thejournal.ie. 13 June 2024.
- ^ "Local Elections: 7 June 2024 - Kildare County Council - Newbridge Local Electoral Area". electionsireland.org. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
- ^ "How the Kildare election count turned into the longest running saga". Leinster Leader. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
The difference in the end - and what turned the tide in favour of McDonnell - was that he collected 260 transfers from [Aontú candidate] Melissa Byrne's vote
- ^ "Ciara Kelly: I dislike Tom McDonnell's 'breeding' talk, but he has a point — women need more support to have children". www.independent.ie. 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
- ^ "Councillor who said Irish women need to breed more says 'most black women have fine bodies'". sundayworld.com. 17 June 2024.
- ^ "Profiled: Meet Ireland's new far-right councillors". thejournal.ie. 13 June 2024.
- ^ a b O'Meara, Paul (2024-06-12). "Breaking: Drama as independent McDonnell lands Newbridge seat on Kildare County Council". www.leinsterleader.ie. Retrieved 2024-08-16.
- ^ "Anti-immigrant campaigner is final councillor elected after five-day count". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-08-16.