Poll-topper Imelda says people of Louth have voted for change
‘IT’S a wonderful endorsement, I’m so proud of every man and woman who walked into a polling booth yesterday, took ten minutes out of their day and cast their vote for me and Sinn Fein,’ said a jubilant Imelda Munster as she topped the poll in Louth.
‘It’s wonderful to get such backing from the people. I’ve been an elected rep since 2004, and I’ve always had the support of the people, and probably because I’ve never left anybody behind, and was always a voice for people, I’m just eternally grateful to them, it’s a huge endorsement and I’m very, very proud of them.’
She said it was the very issues that she heard ‘day in and day out’ on the election canvass which had motivated people to ‘vote for change’ in Louth.
‘I think housing has been a massive issue in this election, public housing and the lack of affordable housing.’
The spiralling cost of renting was a ‘ huge issue’, she added, which saw voters turn to Sinn Fein in their drove, seeking change.
The pension age increase, and her party’s pledge to cut the age to 65 was another vote winner.
‘You bust your chops all your life working, I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t look forward to when they come to 65 saying that’s it I can retire. And then being told that you wait until your 67 or 68.’
Despite the winds of change appearing to blow in Sinn Fein’s direction over the last week, the Drogheda woman said she ‘never takes anything for granted.’
‘I’ve never gone into an election confident. I always went in with the train of thought that you’ve done your work, you go before the people, if they want to vote for you, they vote for you, if they don’t that’s fair enough, they don’t.’
‘So, whilst I had anticipated a struggle to get the two seats, to retain the two seats this time, I never, ever envisaged this.’
The huge turnout for Sinn Fein in Louth led to inevitable questions as to whether they should fielded more candidates locally, particularly in mid Louth.
‘Well, we didn’t have a crystal ball going into this. I think it was our message for change which resonated with everybody, the length and breadth of the state, giving workers and families a break. People were just so tired of the two tier system there was with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael in power since the foundation of the state.’
‘I think what backfired on both parties was the ferocious attacks on Sinn Fein, particularly in the last four or five days of the campaign. I think it sent a message to people that these two parties would do anything to hold on to power, and people said ‘no’ we are having no more of it, we want change.’
With a potential battle ahead to form a government, the likelihood of another general election being called was already being mooted, which said Louth’s first elected TD ‘we would ready to fight, of course we will.’
‘It’s early days yet, we’ll have to wait until the numbers are counted.’
On forming a government, she added: ‘Our first preference would be a left wing government. The worst possible option would be Fianna Fail and Fine Gael back in government, and the best option would be a government without either.’
Speaking about the pressure for Sinn Fein to retain the seat being left by outgoing TD Gerry Adams, she said: ‘It was Paddy Agnew’s seat in 1981, and then it was Arthur Morgan’s seat, but it is the people’s seat, in the same way my seat is the people’s seat. It is not Imelda Munster’s seat.’
She said much of the party’s extraordinary success was downs to ‘ the team we have behind us.’
‘ The team we have in Louth is second to none, the commitment they have, they are party activists and members, walking the streets morning, noon and night. The support is just phenomenal, we have such a party machine in Louth, it spurs you on, and really gives you a sense that we are all in this together.’