Lawlor was a member of Wexford County Council from 2009 to 2024, serving as mayor of Wexford five times.[3] He served on Wexford's town council from 2004 until its abolition in 2014.[4] He contested the 2019 Wexford by-election for the Labour Party, receiving 20% of the vote and being eliminated on the last count.[5] Before his election to the Dáil in 2024, Lawlor worked as his predecessor Brendan Howlin's parliamentary assistant.[6]
Lawlor formerly owned a printing business before selling it in 2017.[7] Outside of politics, Lawlor is a tenor singer[8][9] and is involved with the Wexford Light Opera Society.[10] He was a founding member of Wexford Marinewatch, a suicide prevention organisation, and serves on its board,[11][12] as well as serving on the board of the Wexford Women's Refuge.[13] He is married to Yvonne and they have three daughters.[14]