Shanbally Interest

Shanbally Interest Leas An Seanbhaile
Leader	Dónal Mac Mhèinn
Split from	Free Market Party
Headquarters	Shanbally
Ideology	National conservatism Localism Populism
Political position	Right wing
Colours	Blue   White
Shanbally's seats in the Comhthionól Náisiúnta	0 / 14
Shanbally Council	8 / 48
Politics of Caldia Political parties

Shanbally Interest (Ghaillish: Leas An Seanbhaile) is a local political party in the city of Shanbally in Caldia. The party was founded in 2017 by breakaway members of the Free Market Party. At the time, the PMSA was the largest party on the city council and the mayor belonged to the party. Mairona Nic Alasdair, who was the Chief Mayor, was the party's first leader. The party was the first of the splinter parties that broke off from the PMSA as the party entered its 2017 decline.

Many of the party's members previously belonged to the PMSA. Shanbally Interest has also attracted additional members who are new to politics all together and ran several candidates in 2020. Unlike other PMSA splinter parties, Shanbally Interest has not taken a more moderate approach to politics. The party considered to be right wing and promotes national conservatism. The party supports right-wing immigration and social integration policies. It also supports cutting taxes and reducing government spending. Since its formation, it is has drawn attention for the confrontational politics of some of its members. The party is frequently described as populist.

The party controlled the Shanbally Council until the 2020 election. Nic Alasdair resigned as party leader and was replaced by Dónal Mac Mhèinn, the former council speaker. The party is the largest opposition party and right-wing party on the council. Some of the party's members have refused to take office and resigned after the Social Democratic Party took control of the city government. These members blame the PSD for Shanbally's industrial decline, crime rates, and urban decay. The party also has a hostile relationship with the local branch of the National Party.

After the 2020 elections, the Shanbally public prosector launched an investigation into the party's campaign practices. The prosecutor's office was investigating reports of irregularities in the party's efforts to solicit absentee and proxy votes. The investigation began after email exchanges between party officials were discovered discussing tips for how to acquire these. Gearóid Ó Meachair, a party operative, told senior campaign officials that he had organized over 25 individuals who could collect and deliver ballots. A second investigation was also opened over suspected voter intimidation resulting from the behavior of Maeve Ní Lapain, a candidate for the party.

The party has no national affiliation and has rejected cooperation on a national level with the main parties. In Shanbally, it has previously worked with the Liberty Party to have a governing majority on the council.