Green Party launches Achill islander as Midlands North West European Candidate
The Green Party has announced that 28-year-old Achill islander Saoirse McHugh will contest the upcoming European Parliament elections in the Midlands North West constituency for the party.
A farmer and an environmentalist, Saoirse sits on the boards of the Organic Growers of Ireland and Food Sovereignty Ireland and has worked on various agricultural projects throughout Central America and with the Irish Seed Savers Association in County Clare.
She holds a masters degree in Sustainable Agriculture, and was involved with proposals to create a ‘common food policy’ for the EU and add a ‘rights of nature’ bill to the Irish constitution.
She has campaigned on climate change, community resilience and biodiversity loss.
“My message is clear and simple,” Saoirse said, “changes are coming and if we don’t take control of them, we will be hung out to dry.”
Living on Achill Island, Saoirse is well aware of the challenges facing rural communities.
“Where I’m from we’re dealing with depopulation and storm damage. “In Westmeath there’s lack of access to housing and vulnerability to floods.
“Wherever you go, the problems vary, but often the solutions are the same.
“If communities can begin to imagine and push for the environmentally sustainable future we need, we can grow and thrive, environmentally, socially, and economically.
“This won’t just happen; we have to make it happen. We have to own the change.
“The EU has the scale and scope to deliver on policies which can really benefit the people of Midlands North West, and Ireland as a whole, but they need to be implemented.
“We’ve got Brexit, climate breakdown, floods, droughts and storms all on the horizon and it’s past time to take action.
“The Midlands North West region will be hardest hit and we need a progressive, Green voice in Europe in order to prosper during the upcoming challenges.”
“There’s a growing green movement in Westmeath and Louise Heavin is a really strong candidate for the council.
“There’s a real appetite for change and I’m looking forward to getting out and meeting the people.”
Announcing Saoirse’s candidacy, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan TD, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Saoirse as a fresh new voice in Irish politics.
“With her background, drive and vision, she’ll make an impressive advocate for the kind of future planning the people of Midlands North West need, planning that Ireland needs to be part of at a European level.
“I have no doubt she’s going to mount our strongest challenge yet to win a seat for the Green Party in Midlands North West, as green issues have never been higher on the Irish people’s agenda.”