Former RTE Midlands correspondent and Lanesboro native Ciaran Mullooly has announced that he is taking leave from his role in tourism promotion with Longford County Council for the next six weeks to fully commit himself to contesting the June 7 European elections and striving to win a seat for Independent Ireland in the Midlands-North West constituency.
Via a statement on his on own Facebook page, he formally declared his candidacy and he says he wants to play a 'part in bringing about badly needed, long-overdue change'.
"For
the past 30 years, I have been deeply committed to rural Ireland, through my extensive involvement in a wide range of community development initiatives in the midlands and as a broadcaster at local and national levels.
"These projects focused on disability, tourism, sports, recreation and suicide prevention and various other issues.
"I have a real appreciation of the challenges facing rural Ireland and I am putting myself before the electorate on 7 June because I want to play my part in bringing about badly needed, long-overdue change.
"As RTE Midlands Correspondent, I witnessed the growing frustration of rural communities. Rural Ireland has been grossly neglected and I am prepared to stand up and shout stop, to quote another man from the world of journalism – the great rural champion, John Healy.
"I have worked with voluntary committees to help set up key projects such as the first Pieta House centre in the midlands in Athlone, the QUAD Youth Centre in Roscommon town and the Lions Clubs of Ireland’s Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training programme across 14 counties.
"From my time working closely with disability advocacy groups and spearheading rural tourism projects, I've seen firsthand the challenges and triumphs of rural life. Now, I step into the political arena with a clear mission: to be a voice for rural communities and to represent their interests at the highest levels in a strong and unapologetic manner.
"Proposed restrictions on farming practice, rural isolation, land use, housing and the traditional means of employment across towns and villages in the Midlands-North West constituency are all under threat. I would go so far as to say that the threat from new EU and state policies has never been greater, and we need to meet it head on."
"The decision to join the Independent Ireland party was an easy one for me. The party’s focus on local issues, grassroots activism and tangible solutions to real problems resonates with my own values and convictions. Together, we will work tirelessly to ensure that the concerns of rural Ireland are not just heard but acted upon.
"Those who know me know that I am not a shrinking violet. When Michael Fitzmaurice, TD, invited me to join Independent Ireland, I made it clear I would not be a mouthpiece for anything or anyone. My sole concern was a progressive plan for the regeneration of our rural communities. I have known Michael for a long time, and I knew he shared the exact same goal.
"We have agreed on a clear strategy for progress in urban and rural settings, with the co-operation of party members, the region’s fantastic voluntary sector and the progressive new communities dotted all over the constituency."
"I've made the choice to take leave from my role in tourism promotion in Co. Longford for the next six weeks to fully commit myself to this campaign. It's a move I make secure in the knowledge that the work we do now will lay the foundations for a brighter future for the midlands and the north-west.
"Now is the time for change. Now is the time for the communities of rural Ireland to reclaim their power and shape their own destiny. I am confident I can win a seat in the European Parliament."
Mullooly, who has written three books including his most publication
'The Future is Now' which was launched last September, says 'it is vital that the silent electorate of rural Ireland stands up and is heard'.
"I will be a strong presence in Brussels on CAP issues, Nitrates legislation, disability issues, housing and the next EU Just Transition Fund to support Bord Na Móna and ESB workers and communities who feel abandoned by the state."
