SocDems leader visits Limerick city for campaign launch

SOCIAL Democrats leader Holly Cairns was in Limerick to launch the campaigns of its three election candidates, one of whom is bidding to become mayor.

The Cork TD was at No 1 Pery Square hotel in the city centre where she was joined by councillor Elisa O’Donovan, who is contesting the directly elected mayor.

In relation to the local elections, the party is running Shane Hickey-O’Meara in City North and Donnah Vuma in City East.

Ms Cairns said the new position of mayor is “very exciting” to her party.

“One of our core principles in the Social Democrats is to bring back power to local government. The legislation for directly elected mayor could have gone a lot further, but it’s a step in that direction,” she said.

The party, she added, is “proud and excited to stand a candidate of Elisa’s calibre.”

“As a person, Elisa brings transparency to her work, something which is lacking in local authorities. She brings really a dedication and a grit, and it's something needed in politics, as well as being so dedicated to Limerick and so in love with the place,” added Ms Cairns.

Cllr O’Donovan said: “We need more transparency and accountability within all our public services.

“It’s one of the reasons I am a Social Democrat. What we really need is to ensure people know exactly why and how when it comes to public money.”

READ MORE: Fear the office of mayor will be a ‘flop and not a success’

In recent weeks, a video of Cllr O’Donovan remonstrating with worshippers over what she saw as a lack of Covid-19 era social distancing outside the Sacred Heart Church at the Crescent in 2021 has resurfaced online.

Addressing this, she said: “Myself and another woman were filmed multiple times by an individual.

“That individual has a YouTube channel that has put up multiple videos of me.”