Aidan Farrelly

Aidan Farrelly (born 1986/1987)^[1] is an Irish Social Democrats politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kildare North constituency since the 2024 general election.^[2][3] He retained the seat for the Social Democrats, previously held by the party's retiring founder Catherine Murphy.^[4]

Aidan Farrelly TD
Farrelly in 2024
Teachta Dála
Incumbent
Assumed office November 2024
Constituency	Kildare North
Personal details
Born	1986/1987 (age 37–38)
Political party	Social Democrats
Spouse	Aisling Farrelly
Children	3
Alma mater	St Patrick's, Carlow College Maynooth University

Farrelly previously represented the Clane area on Kildare County Council from 2019 to 2024. He is a lecturer in social policy and youth work at Maynooth University, having experience in Kildare Youth Services.

Early life and education

Farrelly grew up in Clane.^[5] He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Sciences from St Patrick's, Carlow College in 2008. He went on to complete a Master of Science in Community and Youth Work in 2018 and a Doctorate of Social Science in 2024, both at Maynooth University.^[6]

Career

Farrelly began his career in community development and youth work. He contributed to Clane Youth Project in 2007.^[7] From 2008 to 2021, he was a team leader in Kildare Youth Services.^[8][1]

At the 2019 local elections, Farrelly was elected to represent the Clane area on Kildare County Council for the Social Democrats.^[9][10] The following year, he began lecturing in community and youth work at Maynooth University in the Department of Applied Social Studies.^[11] He joined the National Youth Council of Ireland as a research officer in 2023. Farrelly successfully sought re-elected as a councillor in the 2024 local elections.^[12]

Shortly after his re-election to Kildare Council, Farrelly was selected as a general election candidate for Kildare North in the 2024 general election, replacing the retiring Social Democrats party founder Catherine Murphy. Ahead of the election, Farrelly helped launch the party's youth manifesto with Murphy.^[13]

Personal life

Farrelly lives in Prosperous with his wife Aisling.^[5] They have three children.^[10]

Select bibliography

• "Youth Work as Transformative Education: A reflection on the National Youth Council of Ireland's pedagogical bootcamp" in Policy and Practice: A Development Education Review (2023) for the Centre for Global Education, co-written with Sally Daly

References

1. Gallagher, Fiachra (1 December 2024). "Kildare North: Aidan Farrelly (SD)". Irish Times. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
2. "Aidan Farrelly". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
3. "General Election 2024 Live Results – Kildare North". RTÉ News. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
4. O'Donoghue, Niamh (25 June 2024). "Social Democrats select Aidan Farrelly to contest general election in Kildare North". Kildare Now. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
5. Nolan, Daragh (25 July 2024). "Cllr Aidan Farrelly selected as Soc Democrats' candidate for Kildare North". Kildare Now. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
6. "Clár na nÓg: Youth Sector Updates – October 2023". Public Participation Network Meath. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
7. "Clane Youth Project". Clane Project Centre. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
8. Farrelly, Aidan (21 June 2017). "Refugees+: Helping Young People with the Resettlement Journey". Leargas.ie. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
9. "Aidan Farrelly". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
10. "Meet the candidates: Aidan Farrelly, Clane LEA, Social Democrats". Leinster Leader. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
11. "Aidan Farrelly, Maynooth University". RTÉ. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
12. "Elected! Padraig McEvoy and Aidan Farrelly elected in Clane". Kildare Now. 9 June 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
13. "Soc Dems launch youth manifesto". Social Democrats. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.

External links

• Social Democrats profile