AFTER the fourth count in the race to become the first directly-elected mayor of Limerick, we have lost two candidates from the race in one swoop.
Rabharta’s Dr Laura Keyes and the Socialist Party’s Caitríona Ní Chatháin both bowed out of the race on the fourth count.
A very emotional Caitríona Ní Chatháin spoke to the Limerick Post after her elimination from the race, saying that she was proud of what her campaign had achieved in such a short space of time.
Despite being out of the running, Ms Ní Chatháin said she was “just delighted. I’m really over the moon. You know, we’re a very small organisation. This campaign only started four weeks ago. So it’s really incredible.”
“When you think about where we were getting first preference votes, we were getting first preference votes in places outside of Limerick City, and we didn’t have the resources, the people, or the time to even canvass outside of Limerick City. So it’s really incredible that our ideas resonated with so many people.
“We’ve managed to build the organisation as a result and we’re just going to carry on campaigning doing what we’ve always been doing but with with more of a public profile as well. So really delighted with that,” the Socialist Party candidate said.
As for what’s next, Ms Ní Chatháin said that she “wasn’t sure” what the future would hold in politics.
“I do love my job. You know, I’m a Spanish teacher working in the city centre. And but I am an activist to the core, I’m a campaigner to the core, I wouldn’t consider myself a politician but more grassroots, I love engaging with people and bringing them to join in the struggle.
“Right now what we’re seeing in certain parts of the country with far right candidates getting voted in, it’s all the more important that more people get involved in the struggle and put forward a program that that would be for everybody,” she concluded.
Dr Keyes did not wish to comment after her race concluded.
