One of the newest political parties in Ireland will have a candidate in Laois in the Local Elections which are set to take place on June 7.
Timahoe man Patsy Fennell has declared that he will run for the newly formed Independent Ireland party.
Under the slogan of ‘community first, common sense and real change’, Fennell will be hoping to win one of the six available seats in the Graiguecullen-Portarlington area.
Independent Ireland was formed on November 8 by former independent TDs Michael Collins and Richard O’Donoghue.
TD Michael Fitzmaurice then joined the party in February and they, along with Aontu, were the only political parties to campaign for a No/No vote in the recent Referendums which were rejected.
They currently have Councillors on the Limerick, Galway, Cavan and Cork County Councils.
Laois man Fennell is no stranger to politics as he previously ran for election in the old Emo constituency in 1999 for the Labour Party.
Speaking to LaoisToday about his decision to run for Independent Ireland, Fennell explained how he came into contact with TD Fitzmaurice and also his thoughts on the Labour Party.
He said: “In relation to Labour, I always say that I never left them, they left me.
“They go about as far as the Green Isle Hotel in Dublin now and they don’t care about much after that.
“I actually came across Michael Fitzmaurice on Facebook. I read a few of his posts and realised that he stands for everything that I do.
“I connected with him and when the opportunity to run for election came, I said yes.
“Since I announced my intention to run, the reaction has been completely positive. I think people want change.
“And the reason for running for the Independent Ireland party rather than just an Independent can be summed up by an analogy given to me by Michael Fitzmaurice.
“If you see one wasp, you can ignore it. But if 1,000 wasps turn up, people have to take notice. So it is hard for an independent to make real change on his own, but together, they are stronger.”
For over twenty years, Patsy Fennell successfully ran a pest control business.
Patsy then made the decision to sell his business to acquire a local shop in the village of Timahoe.
Understanding the pivotal role of the shop as a community hub, Patsy says he was motivated to keep it open for the benefit of Timahoe and the surrounding areas.
“The shop is more than just a business; it’s the heart of our community,” says Patsy.
“Myself and my wife Eileen are passionate about maintaining its role as a gathering place for locals, where friendships are formed, and community bonds are strengthened.”
In addition to his commitment to the local business community, Patsy is deeply involved in agriculture, operating a smallholding farm in the area with his wife Eileen.
Concerned about the lack of resources and representation for rural communities in Timahoe and surrounding areas, Patsy is determined to stand up for his fellow residents and secure the funding needed to support local initiatives and infrastructure projects.
He said: “I believe that rural communities deserve a fairer deal and stronger representation in local and national government.
“Independent Ireland offers real common-sense solutions that prioritize the needs of our people and our communities. I am proud to stand with them in this election.”
Commenting on Patsy Fennell’s candidacy, TD Michael Fitzmaurice of Independent Ireland expressed his full support for Patsy’s campaign.
He said: “Patsy epitomises what it means to be a dedicated member of a small rural community in Ireland.
“His shop serves as a vital hub for community activities, and his experience as a farmer gives him unique insight into the challenges facing our agricultural sector.
“I am delighted that Patsy has chosen to run for Independent Ireland, and I urge the people of Timahoe and the surrounding areas to rally behind him and give him their full support.”
Fennell’s declaration takes the number of confirmed candidates in Graiguecullen-Portarlington area to ten.
The six current sitting Councillors are all running again – Paschal McEvoy (Fianna Fail), Padraig Fleming (Fianna Fail), Ben Brennan (Independent), Aisling Moran (Independent), PJ Kelly (Fine Gael) and Aidan Mullins (Sinn Fein).
While Aaron Kelly (Sinn Fein), Eoin Barry (Labour) and Vivienne Phelan (Fine Gael) are also confirmed to contest the vote.
SEE ALSO – Check out all of our 2024 Local Election coverage here
