The history of the Social Democrats in Kildare North is a very proud one. One of the founding members of the party is Catherine Murphy, who was a TD for the constituency from 2005 until 2007 and from 2011 until 2024. She first became involved in politics through campaigns against high local service charges and was first elected to Leixlip Town Commission in 1988. She was elected to Kildare County Council in 1991 and re-elected in 1999, 2004 and 2009.
She and Roisin Shortall established the Social Democrats in 2015. They stepped down as party leaders in 2023 and did not contest the 2024 election when Aidan Farrelly, then a county councillor in the Clane Electoral Area, held the seat for the party.
As well as having a TD in the Kildare North constituency, the Social Democrats have four county councillors, Nuala Killeen, Claire O’Rourke, Peter Melrose and Paula Mulroe.
Paula Mulroe is the Social Democrats Councillor for Clane.
Peter Melrose is the Social Democrats councillor for Maynooth.
Claire O’Rourke is the Social Democrats Councillor for Celbridge.
Nuala Killeen is the Social Democrats councillor for Leixlip.
