SOCIAL Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan says she has had her spirit broken in recent months by the hate and vitriol directed at her online.
Posting on social media from her holidays in France this past weekend, Cllr O’Donovan revealed that she had a really difficult few months and “have felt that my spirit and passion had been beaten out of me”.
“I have had to spend €€€s on defending a SLAPP case that has been initiated against me; I have had to distance myself from charities I support as they have been issued with legal threats if they show support for me,” she disclosed.
The City West representative went onto say that private details about her and her family have been plastered all over X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Reddit, alongside the most horrific lies.
“My team of all women have been harassed, filmed, and stalked non-stop for months, leaving me scared everywhere I go. There is much more that I have blocked out,” Cllr O’Donovan wrote.
“I don’t think it would be normal if this didn’t have an impact on me. I have become numbed from the hate and vitriol that has been directed at me everyday for five years.”
Cllr O’Donovan, who recently contested the election of Limerick’s first directly-elected mayor, said that she came out of the local elections not really knowing who she was anymore and in a sort of survival mode.
“These last few days by the sea have really helped me heal my soul a bit. It’s not back to being fully vibrant, positive, and passionate Elisa yet, but it has helped.”
Speaking to the Limerick Post ahead of the June elections this year, Cllr O’Donovan, who works as a speech and language therapist, said that the toxicity of social media had only gotten worse in the lead up to the locals.
“There has been a shift in this election and it is across every single social media. You are being targeted on email … It is gone up another level,” she commented.
“It is very targeted and it is very misogynistic and very sexist. You have to be very mentally strong.”
The O’Connell Avenue resident has worked over the last five years for an inclusive Limerick and strongly opposes any sort of extremism, racism, or transphobia. A fearless voice for minority groups, Cllr O’Donovan has made no apology for standing up for those who need her assistance the most.
Showing support for Cllr O’Donovan on X, one person replied: “You know you’re doing something right when people are trying to silence you. You’ll always have support from me.”
“You may already know this, but part of the reason why you’re such a target is because they can see that you’re getting results. Keep on getting results,” wrote another.
The local representative’s supporters, who deemed the outspoken councillor an inspiration, urged her to keep going.
“I truly believe you are the most valuable councillor Limerick has ever had. We cannot lose you,” another support posted.
