Longford local election candidate vows to press ahead with campaign bid after falling foul of racist abuse

Catherine Joseph's post centred on the largely positive feedback she received while canvassing in Clondra. Ms Joseph was surprised by the negative response from some of the users of X (formerly Twitter).

“I went to Clondra last week and after the canvas I did a video to highlight a number of local issues. That is where the abuse started coming. It seemed to annoy them. They said things like “Go back to Africa” and “change Africa first”, things like that,” she told the Leader.

There were many messages of support, but the trolls behind the offensive postings, a disproportionate number showing Irish flags as profile pictures, were out in force.

On her X feed the Green Party representative got support from one local TD. Deputy Joe Flaherty expressed solidarity with the local election hopeful: “I have known her for a number of years and long before she joined the Green Party. She's passionate and committed, but above all else a genuinely kind and caring person. Don't let the haters get you down.”

Catherine has taken action: “I have reported a lot of them.”.

The abuse the Green candidate was subjected to is largely based on her African heritage. Posts to her X page include comments like: “You are not Irish nor will you ever be, it's not racist to state facts but it is disgusting & disingenuous to use your race as a weapon against the real native Irish people.”

Others read: “Foreign invaders are getting to the front of all the queues here because of their ethnicity, they aren’t complaining when they are put ahead of us though” and “Is there no Irish people living in longford anymore wtf”.

Ms Joseph explained that although there are clear racist overtones of many of the messages, they do not infringe the social media platform's regulations: “Twitter (X) say they don't find any violation in most of the tweets. Some of the videos were investigated.”

The local election hopeful says some good things have come out of the bad: “There are a lot of positives out of it. I have received a lot of support from people in response to the abuse. I am so happy with the public support I have received, and I don't take these things too much to heart.”

Ms Joseph believes those stirring up division are missing the point of what she wants to achieve: “I realise people are using very important social issues to divide our society. It's playing on people's fears. I want to participate in politics to address social problems. I want to be a part of the things that are working well and help to fix things that aren't.”

Her experience canvassing is very different to the online maltreatment she received: “That is the surprising thing. Every door I knock on is positive. Everybody is so nice, even people who say the Green Party is not for them.”

The local election candidate highlighted a number of issues she believes will shape the future of Longford. She says Longford tourism could benefit from a Fáilte Ireland initiative that will see €17 million funding made available for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and communities.

This funding is part of the EU Just Transition Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme.

Ms Joseph believes the announcement will have a significant benefit for Longford: “This funding presents a valuable opportunity for our community-based businesses to contribute to the sustainable transformation of our region, fostering economic growth while preserving our natural and cultural heritage.”

Applications for the Investment Grant-Aid Scheme for Private & Community SMEs will be assessed by Fáilte Ireland, with guidance and support provided to applicants.