The Daisy Age Comes To An End

Dermot ‘Daisy’ O’Brien MAY24

atest press release from the Wicklow Sinn Fein Press Office, issued on Thursday, January 8th 2026…

Wicklow Sinn Féin County Councillor Dermot ‘Daisy’ O’Brien has announced his decision to step down from Wicklow County Council.

Co-opted to Wicklow County Council in 2018, Sinn Féin Councillor Dermot ‘Daisy’ O’Brien went on to secure a Bray West seat in the 2019 local elections and was successfully re-elected in 2024. O’Brien has now announced his decision to step down from his role as an elected representative in order to take up a position in the youth work sector.

Reflecting on his time as a local councillor, O’Brien spoke candidly about the realities of the role.

“Local politics is not a symbolic role. It is complex, challenging, demanding and relentless. It requires policy literacy, budget scrutiny, committee work, community advocacy, attention to detail and, very often, deep interpersonal support for the most vulnerable people in our community, and that’s before you even consider the manoeuvres of the political arena.

“It is public-facing, subject to constant scrutiny and often carries an expectation of continuous availability. I took every part of that responsibility seriously and tried my very best to honour it fully.

“What I have always tried to bring to this role is integrity and humility, which meant carrying an honest and ongoing reflection on my own effectiveness. I know how hard I have tried. I know what I have given up to honour this role. And yet I have consistently asked whether my contribution was as effective as I wanted it to be within the system of local democracy in which we operate.”

O’Brien was keen to acknowledge the collective effort behind his work, paying tribute to his colleagues and supporters within Sinn Féin.

“Local politics is also about people, and I would not have achieved anything without the support of the Sinn Féin family at local, county and national level.

It is a very humbling experience to have people willing to knock doors and campaign for you, to stand up for you, show up for you, and provide ongoing support as you navigate the world of politics.

As my role in electoral politics ends, I look forward to taking up other roles within the movement to ensure the continued growth and development of our campaign for change.”

He also highlighted the personal impact of public life on those closest to him.

“There is one thing that all councillors would agree on without hesitation, entering politics has an unavoidable impact on family.

My family are incredibly proud of me and, to their credit, they have been the most important piece of scaffolding throughout the ups and downs of this journey. They are always part of the conversation when big decisions are being made, and this was no different.

Perhaps there will be some relief, although that may change when they realise I’ll be around more than I used to be.”

O’Brien concluded by expressing confidence in the future representation of his party and community.

“I leave with gratitude, respect and confidence in the continuity of representation. I have every faith that my successor will represent our party and our community with honour and distinction.”

Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady paid tribute to his friend and colleague Dermot ‘Daisy’ O’Brien following the announcement of his decision to step down from Wicklow County Council.

“Dermot has been an outstanding public representative who served his constituents with dedication, integrity and an unwavering work ethic. He brought enormous commitment to his role and approached every issue with diligence, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility.

“He will be a significant loss to Wicklow County Council and to frontline politics in the county. However, Dermot remains deeply committed to Sinn Féin and will continue to play a valuable role within the party. The wealth of knowledge, experience and dedication that he brings is truly invaluable.

“I want to sincerely thank Dermot for his service to the people of Wicklow.

“He leaves very big shoes to fill, and the next person to step into his role will have a high standard to live up to…”