Activist to run in European elections for Midlands North West constituency which includes Kildare

Activist Saoirse McHugh’s has announced that she will run as an independent candidate in the European Parliament elections for the Midlands North West constituency, which includes Kildare.

The Achill island native performed strongly as a Green Party candidate in the 2019 European election, starting as a total unknown to win 51,000 first preference votes.

She subsequently left the Green Party in 2020 after it joined the coalition government and has surprised many with her return to politics.

She said: “I hadn’t planned on running but I’ve just been observing the whole thing play out, everything seems to be moving in the wrong direction and there’s a real lack of leadership on important issues.

“I feel compelled to at least try to influence the debate on our future, to try and put forward a vision and give people the option of a progressive candidate.”

The sprawling, 16 county constituency, which now includes Laois and Offaly, will return five MEP seats.

McHugh added: “It’s a difficult constituency to canvas and even more difficult to predict, I just have to try my hardest and hope my message resonates with people. I’m hoping there’s an appetite out there for more forward-thinking and compassion than the divisive stuff we are hearing so much of lately. So many politicians are taking their lead off the angriest voices because they’re afraid of losing a few votes. They’re not leading, they’re just following and it’s dragging us all backwards.”