Lively reaction from audience
A More Inclusive Politics for Westmeath (part 3)
There was lively reaction from the audience at the seminar on Saturday.
Moi Lemoshira, a researcher in Athlone, said she wanted to walk out of the seminar with something clear in her mind – what advice do you give to a young woman from a minority group that wishes to go into politics?, she asked the panellists.
She is expecting her fourth child and wants her children to feel Irish and not to have to look over their shoulders, feeling that they are less because of the colour of their skin.
Her appeal brought a passionate response from the panel members. “You are welcome, you are wanted, you are needed, you are enough,” Deputy Clarke assured Moi.
“You have taken the first step. You have given yourself and your family a voice,” added Cllr Emily Wallace.
Cllr Aoife Davitt advised Moi to use her passion – if you believe in it, others will believe in you.
“Believe in yourself, own your own message,” said Cllr Hazel Smyth, who advised Moi to get involved in her community as much as possible.
Michelle Maher told Moi “your daughter has a great role model”. There is a network of women that will go out of their way to help you, she added.
These endorsements were greeted with warm applause.
Anthonia Izekor, a mother of five who has lived happily in Kinnegad for the 15 years and immersed herself in the community, revealed that she has been asked by a political party to run for election and she’s ready to do it.
Mary, a 57-year-old mother, was concerned about online abuse directed at politicians. She asked where the line between criticism and abuse was.
Deputy Clarke replied that you draw the line and if a comment goes beyond that, you block or delete the person from communicating with you.
She said her office had been “plastered with [images of] male genitalia”, but all she had to do was look at the reaction online and the outrage on her telephone to be comforted, and then “an absolute gentleman” turned up and offered to clean it off. The matter is now with gardaí.
Cllr Wallace said she was once confronted by “a fella with a shotgun” when she was canvassing. She used to be bothered by negative stuff on social media, but now she lets it go “like water off a duck’s back”.
Frances Monaghan spoke of dirty tactics in politics and asked if women will support each other.
Cllr Louise Heavin did not encounter dirty tactics on her election trail – quite the opposite – while Cllr Wallace said candidates do not have time for dirty tactics and if they are used, it means that the person is afraid of you.
A Polish woman who had travelled from Carlow to attend the seminar said she was interested in running as an independent candidate as she does not want to be associated with any political party. She has found Ireland welcoming, but feels that people from other countries must respect Irish culture and traditions.
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