Offaly man to take key European role

Offaly man Séamus Boland is set to be ratified as President of a key European Union committee.

Boland, the CEO of Irish Rural Link, based in Moate, was elected as the designated candidate of the Civil Society Organisations' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) for the next EESC Presidency.

The EESC is the voice of organised civil society in Europe, representing employers, workers and civil society organisations.

It comprises 329 members nominated by the Governments of 27 EU Member States and appointed by the Council of the European Union for a period of five years. EESC members work independently in the interests of all EU citizens.

The Civil Society Organisations' Group is one of three groups in the EESC.

The three groups rotate the overall presidency of the EESC and the 2025-2028 EESC President will come from the Civil Society Organisations' Group - with Boland the designated candidate.

At the first meeting of the renewed EESC in October 2025, the entire EESC assembly will elect its president for the term 2025-2028, with Boland's election seen as expected.

Séamus, currently serving his second term as President of the Civil Society Organisations Group, has represented Irish rural and community development on EESC for 13 years. When elected President in October, he will become the first Irish person to hold this position.