INDEPENDENT Ireland has added a new candidate to the mix in the upcoming local elections. Ruth Clarke, a proud mother and Limerick woman, will stand in the Limerick City North local electoral area this coming June.
The party welcomed its newest Limerick candidate, saying that “with a diverse background encompassing both rural and urban experiences, Ms Clarke brings a wealth of knowledge and a commitment to improving the lives of her fellow citizens”.
The Independent Ireland candidate spent her childhood on her family farm and developed a deep connection to rural life and agriculture, leading her to spend over a decade working in an equestrian centre, also run by her family.
Since becoming a mother, Ms Clarke also expanded her educational goals, attending night college to gain a teaching degree – which she put to use alongside running her own catering business.
Ms Clarke says she is deeply invested in Irish history and culture, declaring: “I love our country, I love our culture, and I have been so discouraged at how this government has let the people down.”
“I want a better future for our children and believe it’s time to stand up for what we believe the majority of people in Ireland want – common-sense politics that improves the lives of our people.”
Ms Clarke’s primary focuses, if elected, will be around education, housing, healthcare, support for mothers and women, improved health services for neurodiverse people, crime prevention, responsible immigration policies, and support for the agricultural and fishing sectors.
Co-founder of the Independent Ireland party and Limerick TD Richard O’Donoghue welcomed Ms Clarke’s candidacy, saying that “I have known Ruth and her family since I was a boy growing up in Limerick and she is a courageous, dedicated, and hardworking woman who exemplifies everything that our party stands for”.
