Edel is a first-time election candidate, but has a lifetime of experience in politics she wants to use to improve lives
IRISH politics has a long history of family names running in local, general and European elections.
These have included the Healy-Raes from Kerry, the Callearys from Mayo and the Cowens from Offaly to name just three.
Sligo had its own prominent political family with the MacSharry name being synonymous with politics since Ray MacSharry entered Dail Eireann following his first successful election in 1969.
Since his nephew Tom have been ever-present figures locally and nationally for more than 20 years.
Now, another member of the family is throwing her hat in the ring – Edel McSharry, one of Fianna Fáil’s representatives for the Sligo-Drumcliffe electoral area.
A first time candidate she may be, but Edel is no newcomer to politics – politics have been part of her life for as long as she can remember and she is already formidable in her own regard as an effective and successful campaign manager in previous elections.
From speaking to Edel, however, one thing is abundantly clear – she is not taking her family name or loyal supporters of Fianna Fáil for granted and is determined to be judged on her merits.
Speaking on the campaign trail this week, with just over a month until polling day, Edel said: “I expect the next month and a bit to fly by. I have been building my campaign since December because as a new candidate I want to get out there and hear the concerns of our local residents and what they would want me to represent them on at council level.” Asked about being a recognisable surname on the ballot, Edel said she has built the life she wants by climbing the ladder the hard way and wants her potential political career to be no different.
“I have absolutely no laurels to rest on as far as I’m concerned, I am someone who has always worked for what I got in life. From becoming a nurse, to working in intensive care, to working in education, I have worked hard to earn what I have and this election is going to be no different.
“There is no doubt I am inspired by my uncle [Ray], he fuelled my interest in politics from an early age, but I am not taking my family name or party association for granted, I am someone who is driven by a desire to improve people’s quality of life and I want to be judged on my own merits.”
Edel has entered this election equipped with years of valuable knowledge on the ins and outs of what makes a successful election and she discussed how one straight-forward aspect of a successful campaign is one no candidate can afford to overlook if they are serious about their ambitions. “I have been canvassing since I was 10 years old, so I learned all about the ins and outs of what makes a political campaign successful and how that has evolved over the years. For me, there is one secret ingredient to a succerssful campaign that has never changed and that is getting out and meeting people – people need to see you, the person, not just the face on the poster or the leaflet. I want people to see the values I stand for and recognise that I am a very accessible representative and that is why I have been actively campaigning from an early stage.”
Speaking about the issues making up her campaign, she said rural issues need to be to the forefront of the SligoDrumcliffe electoral area and that this is a broad subject ranging from supporting a sustainable agri sector to the provision of bus shelters.
“The Sligo-Drumcliffe area is largely a rural one so naturally the issues facing rural Ireland are quite prevalent when speaking to residents who want their representatives to fight for adequate services and infrastructure. There is a big emphasis on roads improvements in the north Sligo area, people have made their frustrations with the state of the roads very clear on the door. I will also be active on the provision of age-friendly initiatives, working for an agri sector that can meet realistic sustainability targets, the provision of bus shelters and continuing to provide outlets for young people.
“The big priority that we are all fighting for is increasing the housing stock. We need to see that in SligoDrumcliffe but it needs to be available at affordable prices. I also feel we are an area where we can provide more much-needed accomodation for students as well as suitable accomodations for older people and people with disabilities.”
Edel said she will leave no stone unturned in fighting for the issues raised by voters if she is successfully elected. She has made a physical note of every issue and concern raised on the campaign trail – this notepad, she insists, will be with her throughout her tenure if successful as a reminder that the people she spoke to before the election will not be forgotten about.
“While I have been canvassing, people might have noticed I have been carrying a notepad with me. That notepad is being updated all the time with the issues being raised on the doors.
“If I am elected, I will be ensuring I get through that notepad from cover to cover during the next five years. People have been very enagaging with me on both the positives and negatives – there are people who have suffered awful setbacks in life, but their continued positive outlook on life would inspire you more.
“I am keeping this notepad to show that the issues raised on the door are not being forgotten if I am elected and I will be effective in pursuing all avenues towards addressing those issues. That includes cross-party thinking because in a place like Sligo, if we are not all pulling together in the one direction to tackle the imbalance towards us, we will be lost.”