Dún Laoghaire: Barry Ward (FG)
Originally from Deansgrange, Senator Ward is 47 and attended St Columbanus National School in Loughlinstown then St Conleth’s.
He went on to study at UCD, Trinity, the University of Paris and the King’s Inns.
His is a practising barrister and recently became a senior counsel.
He tarted out in politics while in college and was previously a legal adviser to Enda Kenny.
First elected to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for the Blackrock ward in 2009, he ran for Fine Gael in the 2020 general election when he was one of three Fine Gael candidates. He got 5,744 first preferences and was eliminated after the fifth count.
He was subsequently elected to the Seanad on the Industrial and Commercial Panel and has served as vice chair of the Oireachtas Committee.
The Senator won a significant internal party battle to be the second candidate on this occasion, scoring a comprehensive win over rivals at the selection convention and polled well in first count,
He is married to Aoife, a former Fine Gael staff member. They have an 18 month old daughter.
