Longford MEP Ciaran Mullooly insists his success was not borne from his RTE role

Newly elected MEP Ciaran Mullooly reflected on his electoral success when he spoke to Morning Ireland on Friday morning.

He revealed that the work as an MEP begins for him this Sunday, when he travels to Brussels to begin talks in relation to what grouping he will join in the European Parliament.

“A lot of groups lost seats and some groups gained MEP’s. There are also some new groups,” he stated.

He described himself as a “centrist.”

He also denied that he was a “climate denier.”

“I am not anti-green. However, there must be a transition. I work with people on this issue,” he stated.

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He told the programme that he was not in favour of the proposed nature restoration plans.

“There is already up to 10% of agricultural land that is set aside for nature. Farmers are already playing their part,” he explained.

“I would have concerns in relation to rewetting of land. Water may continue from peat land to adjoining land,” he added.

“Issues for farmers are stark,” Mullooly continued.

Mullooly will represent Independent Ireland in Brussels. Mullooly, who most recently worked as a Tourism Activator with Longford County Council, outlined the relative shoestring budget this campaign was run on.

“I spent less than €60,000. That is one third what the main parties spent on each of their candidates,” he stated.

“Eight weeks ago, we had no posters. I had a small team campaigning for me,” he added.

Mullooly also had to contend with some high profile candidates in the field.

“To the right, I had the Cowen Dynasty, which stretches back to the 1970’s. To the left, I had the energetic, driven Ming Flanagan,” he explained.

The race in Midlands North West also had former champion jockey Nina Carberry and outgoing MEP and former Rose of Tralee, Maria Walsh (both of whom were elected).

Mullooly took umbrage with the idea that he was perhaps a ‘celebrity candidate’ to some degree.

“I was in people’s living rooms for decades as an RTE correspondent. However, my success was not borne from my RTE role,” he stated.

“I have been involved in organisations for over years. These included farming and rural projects and suicide prevention,” he added.

Also read: Jubilation for Longford's Ciaran Mullooly as he is elected MEP in Midlands-North-West

Reflecting upon his success, he said that it was “an incredible end to an extraordinary eight weeks.”

“I got very strong first preferences from coast to coast, from Louth over to Galway,” he stated.

The Lanesboro man took the fifth and final seat in the Midlands North West constituency.

He had been battling for the final seat with Sinn Féin candidate Michelle Gildernew.

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