Niamh O Brien for Clare
Niamh O’Brien, Co-founder of Clare Says No, is a 34-year-old mother of one from O’ Callaghan’s Mills, Co. Clare.
Niamh attended Kilkishen N.S., St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Tulla and then went onto study in Waterford Institute of Technology where she attained a B.A (Hons) in Law and Business Studies. She then went onto sit the FE-1 and worked in both private and public legal sector but failed to acquire an apprenticeship due to the economic downturn and subsequently lost her job as a result of same.
Watching the downturn looming two years prior to its official announcement, Niamh became disillusioned with the political and judicial system and left the sector completely for a while before returning as an Advocate to assist those she had set out to, when she first wanted to study law. Niamh began to see the inadequacies of every institution she came into contact with; families being evicted from their homes, and being torn apart, with no recourse from anywhere. Just frustration, anxiety and turmoil at every avenue.
Niamh began to get heavily involved in community activism, attending countless peaceful demonstrations across the Country. The Clare Says No Group, which has been hugely successful and influential in gathering one of the biggest crowd in Ennis politically, apart from the closure of the County’s A&E, since Daniel O’Connell. This movement has grown and instilled a confidence in the people of Clare not felt since the Emancipator spoke from the Square. Everyone played an equal role in getting the message across. She saw how this was the beginning of the end for the current system in Ireland and a revival of community spirit, almost lost in Ireland today.
Niamh ran as a Candidate in the 2014 Local Elections in the East Clare/Killaloe constituency. With a tiny budget and very small dedicated team of five, although not victorious in attaining a seat, with 731 first preference votes she missed the seat by a hairs breath.
“I have seen the Irish spirit reignite and want to rise the phoenix from the ashes of a politically immoral system.”
Niamh O’Brien is running as a candidate in the 2016 General Elections for the Clare Constituency
Cordelia Nic Fhearraigh, Iarrthóir Olltoghchán Dála 2016. Dáilcheantar: Tír Chonaill
Sheas Cordelia Nic Fhearraigh thar ceann Fís Nua mar iarrthóir toghcháin do Pharlaimint na hEorpa sa bhliain 2014 agus, gan aon maoiniú agus gan ach agallamh amháin déanta aici leis na meáin, d’éirigh léi cúpla míle vóta a fháil.