He was a member of
Kilkenny County Council from 1992 until his election to the Dáil in 2007. He was chairperson of the Council from 2003 to 2004. He was also a Member of the Southern Fisheries Board from 2000 to 2007, the Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly from 1999 to 2004 and the Port of Waterford, from 1999 to 2004. His brother,
Liam, previously represented the same constituency for Fianna Fáil, until he retired from national politics in 2007, opting to remain in the
European Parliament. Their father
Bob Aylward was a
Senator from 1973 until his death in 1974. He lost his seat at the
2011 general election, only to lose it again in the
general election in February 2020. ==Personal life==