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POLITICAL PARTY INDEPENDENT Ireland, formed last November, describes itself as “the party of common sense”.
Now, they have secured 23 local councillors across the country, and have taken one of 14 seats available in the European Parliament, with the election of former RTÉ correspondent, Ciaran Mullooly.
Considered so far to be a right-leaning political party, it was founded by then-Independent TDs Michael Collins and Richard O’Donoghue.
Its parliamentary team consists of the two founders and TD Michael Fitzmaurice. Michael Collins is the party leader.
Its main priorities as a party include securing Irish borders, freezing and reforming the Carbon Tax, and implementing urgent planning reform. The party has pledged to “reduce the climate burden on the Irish taxpayer”, and protect farmers and fishermen from EU regulations and “unattainable targets”.
It also promises to deliver “urgent changes to mental health services with early intervention and respite programs”.
In the elections, they ran a total of 60 candidates locally, and three MEP candidates — and have seemingly been met with unprecedented success.
A total of 23 Independent Ireland candidates were elected as councillors to local authorities across the last number of days, to councils Carlow, Cavan, Cork City, Cork County, Dublin City, Galway County, Kildare, Limerick City and County, Mayo, Offaly, Roscommon, South Dublin, Westmeath, and Wicklow.
Independent Ireland now officially has 23 councillors across 14 councils: 40% of the total number of candidates that it ran for election. Having run eight female candidates, only one was elected: Linda de Courcy in the Clondalkin Local Electoral Area (LEA), taking a seat on the South Dublin County Council.
Despite its success as the youngest party running for election, 12 of Independent Ireland’s candidates in the local elections were incumbents.
Eleven of these councillors have been re-elected. Two candidates — Noel Larkin and Danny Collins — have served as Mayor of Galway City and Mayor of Cork County, respectively. Incumbent Ken O’Flynn has served as deputy Lord Mayor of Cork City.
Larkin lost his seat, making him the only incumbent running as an Independent Ireland candidate to do so.
Independent Ireland currently has three TDs, though eliminated MEP candidate Niall Boylan has teased potentially running in the next general election.
Don’t forget the podcast will be back live each day from Monday and I’ve a lot to talk about when it comes to Irish elections. Will I be running in the General Election? Will I go back to radio? All will be revealed on Monday.
— Niall Boylan (@Niall_Boylan) June 13, 2024
All three Independent Ireland TDs were elected as Independent candidates, rather than party members.
This invites the question: is the party’s success as great as it seems?
Independent Ireland underwent a recruitment phase prior to the registration of candidates for election. The party gathered previously Independent incumbents, and those seeking to leave their parties, to run for the party in the local elections.
Newly elected MEP Ciaran Mullooly has previously said that he had received an invitation from TD Michael Fitzmaurice to run for Independent Ireland in the elections.
Current councillor Seamus Walsh was the first Independent Ireland candidate to be elected locally. He announced his resignation from government party Fianna Fáil in March. Now, he has been re-elected to Galway County Council as a member of the Independent Ireland party.
Collins welcomed his two brothers, Danny and John, to Independent Ireland. Both have now been elected to Cork County Council.
Richard O’Donoghue, General Secretary of the party, also saw his brother John O’Donoghue re-elected to Limerick County Council. He had taken Richard O’Donoghue’s seat on the council when he was elected to the Dáil in 2020.
Party leader Michael Collins has been a controversial figure for a number of years.
In an interview with Hot Press in April of this year, Collins issued a series of statements against immigration and called for a ban of the burqa in schools. He rejected the decision to accord Travellers the status of an ethnic minority in Ireland.
Collins described former IRA member Martin McGuinness as a great Irishman and said that he believed God would forgive all former IRA gunmen for sins involved in committing murder.
“Martin McGuinness is not in hell,” he told Hot Press. “Martin McGuinness was a good man.”
He advocated for the legalisation of prostitution, said that rapists and paedophiles should be chemically castrated, and that he doesn’t agree with drink-driving limits.
In 2015, ahead of his bid to run for the Dáil, Collins apologised for writing a character reference for an acquaintance’s son who was subsequently convicted of underage sex.
In December 2021, he was among a group of TDs who proposed a bill in the Dáil that would require pain relief for a fetus during later abortions. The bill was defeated by 107 votes to 36.
Independent Ireland does not operate on a “strict party whip system, and candidates will be free to speak and vote on key issues”.
Following his interview with Hot Press, Collins confirmed to The Journal that he hadn’t informed candidates of his two-hour interview with Hot Press and added that it is not practical to do so.
In the Midlands-North-West constituency, Independent Ireland’s candidate Ciaran Mullooly secured the fifth and final seat for the European Parliament, benefitting from Aontú leader Peader Tóibín’s transfers, picking up 10,093 votes. He beat Sinn Féin’s Michelle Gildernew for the final seat. Ireland South candidate for Independent Ireland, Eddie Punch, was eliminated on count 16.
Mullooly, similarly to fellow Independent Ireland MEP candidates Punch and Niall Boylan, has not previously run for election. Formerly an RTÉ Midlands Correspondent, he now works as a tourism activator for Longford County Council. In the first count of Midlands-North-West, Mullooly topped candidates from government parties, receiving 57,297 first preference votes.
On Tuesday evening, as counts progressed to determine who would be elected to Dublin’s four MEP seats, Independent Ireland’s candidate Niall Boylan was in third place and hopeful of securing a European Parliament seat.
However, Boylan was overtaken by Sinn Féin’s candidate Lynn Boylan, and then slipped from the fourth seat as Labour’s Aodhán Ó Ríordáin received a large boost in votes when incumbent Ciarán Cuffe of the Green Party was eliminated from the race.
Thank you @Niall_Boylan for giving it everything. To achieve what you did as a first time candidate was nothing short of incredible. You did us all immensely proud. The future is bright for the people of Ireland that want new voices and real change.@michaelC_IND_TD… pic.twitter.com/zCUwR6E7Q8
— Independent Ireland (@independent_ire) June 12, 2024
Punch received a total of 20,751 first preference votes on the first count. A first time candidate, Punch is a farmer and was previously the general secretary of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association. Despite having not previously run for election, Punch still outperformed candidates (in terms of first preferences) from parties Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and Aontú — all of which have sitting TDs.
Punch’s performance in the European Elections, while undoubtedly impressive, is still considerably less so than candidates Mullooly and Boylan, both of whom had a sizeable public presence prior to running.
Boylan is a radio presenter and podcaster. He presented The Niall Boylan Show on Classic Hits 4FM for over six years before departing in April this year, as he announced his candidacy for the European Parliament.
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Gotta keep the Taxes rolling in to pay for all the insanity that’s going on in this country.
428 on accommodation bills in the first 3 months of the year.
Word is out in Jordan as well that Ireland is an easy touch,hence the skyrocketing numbers arriving from there. There will be no end to this until this Government grow a pair and start getting tough. And I can’t see that happening any time soon.
They represent the majority of voters, 52% to be exact. They don’t represent the 0.9%. Not happy then leave!!!
@Gerard Carey: there’s such a thing as international law, responsibilities and UN charters that oblige us to care for everyone who lands in these shores. Most of whom are a lot worse off than you.
@Alan B: it’s okay with the 99.1% of us, yes, as we are not racist.
@9QRixo8H: Buttercut making up scutter again.
@9QRixo8H: making up nonsense again.
@9QRixo8H: No it’s not okay with most of us, where in god’s name did you come up with a figure of 99.1%?
@The Firestarter: Results of the very recent local elections. All the far-right parties COMBINED couldn’t even get to 1% in votes.
@9QRixo8H: Again, you show your misunderstanding of this statistic. People voted for local elections to local councillor, usually the same people who are active in the community.
Local elections doesn’t reflect the “people” otherwise SF would have had better numbers. 100% sure it will be way higher than that. Also the majority of people in Ireland do NOT want illegals flooding the country. Maybe you like high crime and uneducated people but most don’t.
@9QRixo8H: Not wanting illegals isn’t being far right, it’s being realistic. I don’t vote far right but still don’t want them. Your usual rambling makes no sense.
@Gerard Carey: Word is out in Jordan? Any evidence to support this?
@Alan B: Countries with 100’s of millions of people see Ireland as an easy touch? Any evidence to support this claim?
@Alex: That’s some mental gymnastics!!! If people didn’t want a certain skin type coming into their LOCAL communities, then the far right would have gotten more than 0.9% in the LOCAL elections. Fact is, you can’t speak for a “majority” if you couldn’t even get one percent of votes!!!! 0.9% is not a majority!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@9QRixo8H: Are you counting the dozens of anti immigration independents who got elected all over the country, the actual right wing parties and also independent Ireland and even aontu would have right leaning policies on immigration. I’m sure it comes to much more than 1%
@9QRixo8H: Jesus ! Is he not allowed voice him opinion?
@The Firestarter: no it’s not ok. I’ve never voted far right nor would I. But I’m not happy with all this immigration as we don’t have enoughht services.
@ruairi Colton: Is someone upset that their klan got 0.9%? Those others are multi-issue parties, people vote for them for a myriad of issues.
@kevin rock: no because you don’t get to say “that person cannot buy a house in this community because of their skin colour or where their from or their nationality”
@SYaxJ2Ts: Try and keep up.
@Gerard Carey: Bet you don’t ask for a native doctor do ya
@Gerard Carey: As I thought, no evidence at all, just relying on bias and prejudice
@David Galvin: May God help us,with your attitude. I see you are easily taken in?
@9QRixo8H: Do your parents know your commenting wee fella?
@Alex: how many city centre j.nkies are asylum seekers?
@SYaxJ2Ts: if you care to educate yourself with the latest arrival figures you will have the answer to your question.
It’s not that hard Kevin.
@Alan B: is 100s of millions not billions, just saying.
@Alan: If the state didn’t spend billions into useless “asylum” seekers, they would certainly provide adequate facilities to treat addiction.
Your fallacy is pathetic.
@9QRixo8H: You are doing some mental gymnastics not me. You are assuming that people who do not want illegals are far right when they aren’t.
You are clearly not educated enough to understand the basis in politics.
@9QRixo8H: and again, it has nothing to do with skin colours but how people end up here. Boat people, even if a majority come from Middle East and Africa aren’t exclusively brown or black. Another uneducated comment.
@9QRixo8H: The problem with boat people is that they provide nothing useful to our society. The majority of them have no education and will be a burden to everyone. Educated people who benefit this country arrive here legally to work. I have plenty of Indian neighbours who are productive and not illegals leeches and I am happy. Doctors, nurses, IT specialists… boat people are useless at best, they don’t speak English for many of them, they have no useful skills and will just wait for an accommodation and money.
@Gerard Carey: Pathetic. An increase in asylum seeker numbers from Jordan doesn’t mean that “the word is out”, rather it reflects the refugee crisis from the war in Gaza. So, as I said, bias and prejudice, with a condescending attitude on top. You need to educate yourself
@SYaxJ2Ts: Tents all over the place isn’t evidence enough for you, ffs what is wrong with people the country is on her knees, we can’t look after the people here,hse is in bits, housing etc etc and etc, but yes of course let’s keep the door open and let everyone in because we’re not racist, that’s your answer? What has the colour of skin got to do with doing what is right for the country?
@Alex: so this city centre phenomenon has only just occurred after a rise in asylum seekers lol do you actually live in Ireland (serious question)?
@Gerard Carey: how dare you that’s racist! No matter whether you’re facts and figures are 100% right you’re not allowed free speech unless you’re not irish anyway. Roderic has just informed us coolock and tipperary sites will proceed now regardless which is like a f u to the people who protested which is similar to a dictatorship. And before some clown says that’s nonsense if months of protests are ignored and you more or less spit on people walk over them and proceed with you’re plans without listening to theyre concerns that’s what it is. People have a right to at least talk and consult with those who plant large numbers in there areas with no background checks done basic common sense but not to those in power once they don’t live near it that’s all that matters.
@SYaxJ2Ts: it’s you who needs to educate yourself
@Alex: I’m sure he’ll change his tune when they’re tent is outside his garden. Garbage and excretment on the grass and pavement with no access to facilities. A kind of normal thinking for roderic o gorman and the likes let the bath fill and when it overflows ask why? Instead of thinking first and seeing is the facilities and amenities necessary there? No plant them in coolook and tipperary and sod the locals and if crimes start keep it quiet then say lessons learned when something serious happens.
@9QRixo8H: No its not ok. The vast majority are against it but afraid to speak out for fear snowflakes like you will call them racist.
@9QRixo8H: you’re a bit of a flake
@Alex: governments hav never shown any interest in helping people with an addiction. This problem has been around much longer the asylum seekers.
Intervention if we go back to 2022 prices.? The price now is horrendous. No need to wait. The general public are on their knees.
Just add to that the hikes in electricity from October …
Did he not come out as a woke person recently?
@9QRixo8H: I’m a woke person, I woke up this morning, give me the money please.
@9QRixo8H: no
He came out as a homosexual gentleman, which is a completely different thing.
@donal O’brien: are you sure about the gentlemen bit?
I would like to ask him how much he spends (out of his own pocket|) on fuel going to and from work.
@George Vladisavljevic: that TD expense culture needs to go. They are paid more than enough already. I don’t see the opposition parties bring that up either.
Petrol was only meant to rise by 4cent but it went up by 7cent
“volatility in the global oil market” lmao
He will do as they have done all along & geneflect the knee when Eamon Ryan tells them to do so. The Greens dictating & destroying the country & Fianna Fail & Fine Gael enabling them just to stay in power. Micheal Martin & Leo Varadkar were brown noding Ryan fo years now just to stay in power.
Good for you, Chambers, GFY.
Puts on 500 euro suit, clock.in…do a few hours 500 quid in pocket. Chauffeured driven home. Done. Ah the life.
He’s like the head prefect.
have your say