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Updated 10.30am
A FORMER FIANNA Fáil activist, who quit the party after criticising its marriage referendum campaign, is to run for the Social Democrats in Cork East.
Ken Curtin, who was one of the leading campaigners for a Yes vote in the Cork area, will be confirmed as the party’s latest Dáil hopeful along with three other candidates at Leinster House this morning,
He quit Fianna Fáil in May, just days after the marriage referendum was passed, saying the party “didn’t turn up” to campaign for a Yes vote. He said his resignation was “the straw that broke the camel’s back”.
Curtin joined the Social Democrats in recent weeks and was at the party’s pre-budget submission launch in Dublin last week.
The SocDems are also announcing the recruitment of Aisling O’Neill who will run in Meath East. The emergency department nurse contested last year’s local elections as an independent candidate in Ashbourne. However, she failed to get elected.
Councillor Gerry Warnock, who is the current chair of Longford County Council, will run for the SocDems in Longford-Westmeath. He recently said the council could not provide housing for 20 asylum seekers, insisting it was “nothing to do with racial prejudice”.
The party has also recruited Leonard Kelly to run in Wexford. He was an unsuccessful candidate in last year’s local elections and a founding member health awareness and fundraising group Friends of It’s Good to Talk. He is also a board member of Wexford Educate Together Primary School and Wexford County Childcare Committee.
The SocDems’ latest recruits bring to 14 the total number of candidates confirmed as running in the general election next year. The party recently recruited businesswoman Glenna Lynch and former Labour councillor Cian O’Callaghan to run in Dublin.
A party source declined to be drawn on how many candidates the SocDems will end up running in the general election.
The source said that the party will focus on “quality over quantity”.
We won’t be running 25 just to hit a number. There’ll only be 25 if there are 25 candidates who we are confident are fully on board with the values and principles of social democracy.
Speaking this morning, Róisín Shortall said the party has been “overwhelmed” by the number of people coming forward “to help out behind the scenes or get involved with delivering our shared vision”.
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Anything that makes FF look bad is a good thing. I worry people are forgetting how corrupt they were.
@ TheBull here’s a little reminder. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=873752662702642&id=100002037483113
Not so sure about this one to be honest, SocDems have impeccable credibility and integrity, something FF know nothing about. Is prefer to see them recruit fresh talent unencumbered with opportunism.
Was thinking that myself. I don’t want social democrats to become dumping ground for the the filthy failure rejects or heaven for bit a rat blueshirt trying to save their necks at next g.e. Wud like ppl untainted by being involved wi th those disgusting anti irish ppl parties
Exactly, my biggest worry was an influx of Labour rats fleeing a sinking ship but to take on ex-FF members is possibly worse.
I’ll listen to what he has to say.
Leopards don’t change their spots! the only thing FF are liberal with are their empty promises!
If Social Democrats are to emerge as a new political party of change with the potential to attract disgruntled voters then they must draw on new fresh faces in politics who will bring enthusiasm, energy, ideas and an overwhelming urge not to settle for what has gone before, otherwise what is it all about. We are weary of FF/FG/L/Greens, we have suffered at the combined policies of these self serving parties, when we voted for change in the last election only to be hoodwinked by FG/L, it was apparent only a new party could offer hope but we are dismayed to see disenfranchised individuals from all these parties emerging as front runners for SD, lets have change, take a risk and bring on board ordinary folk who can see and meet the challenge of dismantling political stagnation and encompassing a fairer more inclusive society.
Most recent opinion poll showed Social Democrats at ….1%. Despite this, large sections of the media bubble continue to talk them up, led by The Irish Times’ Archbishop Fintan O Toole. Just shows shows how unrepresentative and utterly out of touch the media are with most Irish people.
Yes Brian and the Journal’s never ending lucinda stories prove that also.
They could have used this. My name is Leonard Kelly, I am the Social Democrat candidate for Wexford. A father of four young children, I have been involved in his local community for a number of years. I am a founding member and chair of a mental health awareness and fundraising group (Friends of It’s Good to Talk) , board member of Wexford Educate Together Primary School and Wexford County Childcare Committee. This time working with the community sector has hardened my conviction in the absolute importance of investment in our local communities and crystallised my understanding of the issues facing these, and many sectors of society, For the last 15 years, i has worked in a variety of project and quality management roles in the Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals and Manufacturing Sectors. As a result of this, i adheres to ethical, evidence based decision making.
It strikes me that this is a disparate mix of people. Disappointing to see the non sequitur of fluoridation being mentioned as an issue.
Where’s the fun new political party focused on youth unemployment, education reform and other things that matter?
He’s agin’ wind turbines, pylons and flouride.
Just what we need in the Dáil.
yep, this is disappointing. I expect a higher calibre of candidate to be honest. Some of these look very populist.
Article does not state he is “agin’” turbines, pylons and flouride.
Rat’s and sinking ships
He(Ken Curtin)wasn’t even on the ship not even a councilor. A self proclaimed activist who has far to high an opinion of himself (like many in the social democratic)
He(Ken Curtin)wasn’t even on the ship not even a councilor. A self proclaimed activist who has far to high an opinion of himself (like many in the social democratic)
fianna failed have loads more piggies for the trough
Renua hoovering up candidates that didn’t (or were never going to) get through convention in other parties.
I hope the candidates are viewing this a long term strategy
I hope to God that the Soc Dems does not turn out to be a pack of Liebour rejects.
This smells of opportunism.
They have no choice but to run whoever they can. They are polling at just 1% and left it way too late to form up and that will cost them dearly. Realistically, they are probably looking at the next election rather than this one.
They’ll get a couple of seats, Shortall won her constituency comprehensively last time and Donnelly is likely to get re-elected I’d have said. The chances of getting any broader success beyond the 3 founding members seems unlikely unless they run a killer campaign and really nail their policy positions
How exciting…………not
Very disappointed to see them recruiting failed politicians or politicians from other parties. I had considered voting for them but not if theyre recruiting ex ff/fg politicians. Thats not change.
Good luck Ken. I don’t agree with everything you stand for and think you stuck with FF for too long, but your work on the Marriage Referendum showed you have the guts to stand up for what’s right when those around you find it easier to be silent. Hope you continue in the same vein.
doesn’t his his, what?, 2 previous decades in FF refute that theory of yours?
Ken,you are irrevocably contaminated by you association with FF.
By no stretch of the imagination could you say that it required ‘guts’ to support the Marriage Referendum. The entire political establishment and the media were all cheering it on rather than encouraging a debate. Going against the consensus requires guts. Maybe Ken is just another political opportunist?
Light coverage at best. Def not up to the standards of Renua coverage. I personally know Leonard Kelly and to boil his entire political view down to wind turbines and flouridisation is totally misrepresentative of his work with Early education organisations and mental health charities as well as many other community groups and projects. Def not a party reject, first membership of anyI party.Congratulations to them all for taking a stance and standing before their constituents.
like referendums on wind turbines, flouridation and pylons are needed. Like all populists they shout about what they are against, but what answers do they have?
If people really want change then I suggest voting for Direct Democracy Ireland (DDI) at the next election. http://www.directdemocracyireland.ie
Lol
Political Parties …. are just Private Clubs … passing laws in response to vested interests not citizens interests!
Irish Political Parties are financial predators who Max your Tax, like Landlords Max your Rent and Banks Max your Debt ….. bring your brains to the Polling Booths!
I’m a bit disappointed here as I had been considering a vote for this new party. I will research further and think on it.
stephen donnelly voted for the eviction bill
have your say