Áras Contae an Chláir
CLARE COUNCILLORS have voted not to nominate a candidate for the Presidential election.
Six candidates were due to attend Monday’s special meeting of the Council but only five showed up.
Searlait Ní Chianáin, Diarmaid Mulcahy, Sarah-Louise Mulligan, Dr Cora Stack and Gerben Uunk all made their pitch to elected members of Clare County Council but they were unsuccessful in their quest.
Quantity surveyor Keith McGrory was absent from the meeting but had been due to make his case. Prospective candidates must get the backing of four local authorities to appear on the ballot.
It was a meeting which heard about “Turkish teeth”, featured a clash between two Fine Gael councillors and saw one candidate strongly criticised for their support of US President Donald Trump and their views on immigration.
“One of the women should go back to college, the other should be in the Gaiety” remarked one councillor to The Clare Echo. Another councillor said none of the candidates possessed the “skillset required” to be even considered to get the Council’s nomination.
Beginning her address, artist and filmmaker Searlait Ní Chianáin (IND) thanked members of Kerry County Council before quickly correcting herself. She said her vision for the future is rooted “in the core values of equality, fairness and transparency” and that there are complex mental health concerns with Ireland’s younger population due to the use of Class A drugs. “As an artist, we don’t things for money, we do things for love and I love Ireland. I hope you love me too,” she told councillors.
Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) praised Searlait for her passion and asked if she had travelled abroad. She revealed that she travelled to Turkey for “my Turkish teeth” and said this was an indictment of the health service in Ireland. “If you’re not willing to stand up for anything, you will fall for anything,” Searlait stated. Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) said he was struck with Searlait’s positivity. “You are very caring, we do have issues and problems. From a personal point of view it is not easy to put your name forward so well done”.
Kerry native Diarmaid Mulcahy (IND) who is based in Galway began his address in Irish, “it is important to be someone who speaks fluent Irish in seeking this nomination”. He added, “According to Google there wasn’t a Siege of Ennis, I know it was a dance we did at home as kids, the relevance to the Presidential election is freedom and something under siege. My belief is the freedom of expression and action is under threat,” Diarmaid comments. He was critical of how some local authorities have handled the nomination process but praised Clare County Council for how accommodating they have been. He asked councillors to vote with their conscience.
United Ireland formed the part of Cllr Michael Shannon’s (FF) question and how Mulcahy as President would appease both sides “in order for dialogue and proper negotiations. The President of Ireland will be one of the central points in this mechanism”.
“I will answer in a slightly roundabout way” replied Mulcahy. He says he was taught the lyrics of ‘A Nation Once Again’ from the age of six alongside his sister. “That talks about a United Ireland, my personal opinion is I believe a United Ireland would be an important step, I totally acknowledge the significance of making that statement, I believe it is an important step forward”. He said, “It is about bringing people together and looking at a peaceful solution and acknowledged there will be political and economic aspects to navigate. “I believe respect for different ideologies is important”. He continued, “If this gets any further get used to hearing the word peace”.
How Mulcahy would address economic imbalance in the West of Ireland was the question put to him by Cllr Joe Killeen (FF). Mulcahy says he has been involved in the development of Knock Airport but notes the county which he is in and Shannon’s importance and opted not to delve further on that point. He was also involved in the Western Development Commission.
Sarah-Louise Mulligan (IND) put a strong emphasis on immigration in her address.
She said Ireland is a critical juncture with people unsafe on the streets and open borders and claimed the death of primary school teacher Ashling Murphy highlighted failings in Ireland’s immigration policy. “Young couples can’t afford to buy a home which must change”, Sarah-Louise said. She said she will prioritise building homes for Irish families.
Enoch Burke was referenced by Sarah-Louise, “he was imprisoned for speaking his mind, his beliefs were compromised and his €50,000 in savings were removed”.
Views expressed by Mulligan on immigration were rejected by Cllr O’Callaghan. “I would have a little bit of difficulty is making reference to the new people coming into this country, the majority of which are very welcome, a lot of our businesses have traded very well because of them. Only for them, we wouldn’t have services in our hospitals. We have to welcome all, as we were in the bad times we had to emigrate to America”. He said vetting must improve “to ensure the correct people are in our country”.
Mulligan said Ireland’s borders must be secured. “I would be very like President Trump if I was elected”. She said she is among Trump’s biggest fans and called for Enoch Burke to get his savings back and also said she is a big fan of Elon Musk. “This Council has treated me very well, I cannot say the same about Dublin City Council”. She was critical of not getting an interview from Virgin Media or RTÉ and pointed out she received 10,000 likes on Twitter, “I don’t know if any other Independent candidate has received that amount”.
Cllr James Ryan (SF) said it is a bit hypocritical to want free speech and be Donald Trump’s biggest fan. He questions her understanding of politics. “I find it very offensive,” he said while telling Mulligan he is married to an immigrant. “Check why Enoch Burke is in trouble, it is not free speech”.
For anyone to be able on the ballot paper for the Presidential election would result in a chaotic system, commented Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) says it would be a chaotic system if anybody could run for the Presidency. A naturalised citizen of America, she said “it is breaking my heart” to see what is happening in America. “President Trump is against free speech unless he likes the speech”. She stated, “I would not in any way support you to become President of this great country”.
Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) admitted he was “taken aback” by some of the comments of Mulligan.
Time had elapsed for Cllr Mary Howard (FG) to contribute but she said Mulligan’s comments are “very disrespectful” and said she would not communicate with her via email.
No questions could be put to Dr Cora Stack (IND) as she used all her speaking time of fifteen minutes to give her own address. She told the meeting she had been locked out of her computers this morning and had to make 100 edits to her speech.
Coercion and gaslighting are among the areas, Cora said she wants to tackle while protecting the Constitution. She commented, “I hope Clare is a fairer county that Kerry when it comes to politics, allegedly”. She said she won’t “sell my soul to Sinn Fein”. Bullying of women in the Defence Forces will not be tolerated said Dr Stack. “A lot of people would say we’re becoming America number two, we’re going that way unless we change that direction,” she stated.
Based in Miltown Malbay, Cora referenced the area in several occasions during her speech, including as an example of where services are disappearing, “a country where rural Ireland declines is a country diminished”. She added, “an obsession with consumerism and greed is ruining Ireland”.
“Chronic loneliness and isolation” is shattering lives according to Dr Stack. “I ask you to defy your orders of the Government, you will be glad you did it, every single thing has been done to block me coming her today,” she said when concluding her address.
Outlining his dream to become “Ireland’s first immigrant President,” Gerben Uunk (AWP) said “animal cruelty is at an all-time high. He argued that funds given to the horse racing industry would be better served given to mental health services. He said the President can play a role in “re-assessing Shannon Airport” and called for the end of military forces using Shannon. An Ireland of warmth and welcome has not been showcased in the views of some candidates, Gerben believed. He voiced his support for keeping the triple lock in place. He said there should be a Directly Elected Mayor in every county and called for the return of Town Councils.
Cllr James Ryan (SF) said it was good to hear Gerben’s support for the triple lock and praised his views on immigration. Cllr O’Callaghan said all elected members are against cruelty to animals.
Clarity on Gerben’s understanding of the triple lock was sought by Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF). He responded to say the triple lock is important for the Ukraine border. “What you are saying is entirely inaccurate,” said Colleran Molloy, the duo previously were on the same ballot in 2014 for the Ennis MD election.
“What is your issue with horse racing, I’ve been to plenty of horse meetings and have never seen a horse abused,” stated Cllr Pat Burke (FG). “Go down to Listowel and see the boost to the economy,” he added. The Olympics could come to Ireland if the resources given to the greyhounds and horse racing industries was given to athletics, replied Gerben.
Candidates getting a nomination was not the only struggle in the Chamber as Cllr Howard for the second time was unable to speak due to standing orders and the wish of the Mayor of Clare, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) to “keep a level playing field” with the same amount of time allocated to each candidate. “Can I not get in this time, seriously Paul” remarked Cllr Howard when criticising the Mayor. “I will not accept that,” said Cllr Murphy on the insinuation from his party colleague that she has been stopped from speaking. He advised her there is a queuing system once councillors press their microphones and that she had left it too late on both occasions.
After a ten minute adjournment, the meeting resumed where Cllr Murphy asked if there was any nominations from the floor. Cllr Pat Daly (FF) had incorrectly pressed his microphone leading to a moment of suspense before he clarified this was done inadvertently.
Before the meeting concluded, Cllr Howard got her chance to address the “irresponsible” comments of Mulligan. “She picked two outlier cases which were unfortunate,” she said. “She did a complete disservice to the women of Ireland,” Howard added before stating, “the fact she is a fan of that despot (Trump) speaks volumes”.
