Fianna Fáil senator won't contest next election; plans to step back from politics
Senator Shane Cassells: 'After 25 years of elected service for Fianna Fáil, I am stepping away from elected political life..' File picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Fianna Fáil senator Shane Cassells will not contest the next general election and intends to step back from politics.
A number of Fianna Fáil councillors in Meath confirmed that Mr Cassells phoned them in recent hours to confirm his decision to step back.
It had been expected that Mr Cassells would seek to return to the Dáil at the upcoming general election, but his confirmation to local party members has quashed this.
A letter from the senator to local party members said that he had been thinking about his future over recent months.
“While I have been greatly honoured to have been nominated by so many members in Meath West to contest the election, I have made the decision that I will not be seeking the nomination,” Mr Cassells wrote.
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“It has been the honour of my life to serve this party as a councillor for 16 years and an Oireachtas member for nine years."
The Labour panel senator was first elected as a TD in 2016. However, he lost his seat in the 2020 general election, before he was elected to the Seanad.
Mr Cassells was first elected as a Navan town councillor in 1999, before he went on to be elected to Meath County Council between 2004 and 2016.
He first ran for the Dáil in 2005, when he contested a by-election for the Meath constituency. He was also not elected when he ran for a second time in 2011 for the Meath West constituency.
Speaking to the , Mr Cassells said that after over 25 years in politics, he had “run out of gas”.
“I just decided to call time,” Mr Cassells said.
“Politics has changed massively since I started as a 21 year old. It is draining and you need a certain amount of energy.” He cited things like higher levels of abuse as part of the changing nature of politics, as well as higher expecations from the general public of their politicians.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin paid tribute to Mr Cassells, saying that he had made an "outstanding contribution" to politics over the last 25 years.
"Shane is an extremely hard working and committed Meath man and has delivered a lot for his county and town of Navan," Mr Martin said.
"I spoke to Shane, and I have a lot of respect and admiration for Shane’s work over the years but I fully understand his reasons for wanting to move on to a new chapter in his life.
"Shane is also a deeply committed sports person, we’ve had great banter over the years about the fortunes of Cork and Meath Football and no doubt that will continue. But I wish him every success into the future at whatever he does next."
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