'Let's get elected...'

"You're here because he's a good guy and you want him to succeed," Mairead McGuinness MEP told the full house that turned up for the launch of Martin Heydon's local election campaign on Friday night.



At the event in Walls of Kilgowan, the veteran broadcaster and journalist, and very successful European politician, said that the Fine Gael candidate is a 'man who knows his people, and his area well'.

"It takes guts to put your name on a ballot paper and your face on a poster," she added. "But more than ever we need people not to see politicians as all the same, and when we have young people prepared to put their names forward and do what is required, it augurs well for politics."

Earlier, outgoing councillor for the Athy Electoral District Rainsford Hendy had introduced Martin's campaign, saying he was 'very honoured to have a young man of this calibre to follow in my footsteps'.

Cllr Hendy, who has served the area for nigh on 20 years, recalled the candidate's family background in Fine Gael, and said that he had no doubt that after the June elections, Martin will be elected, and will 'serve the party well'.

He also expressed his satisfaction that, after seeing so many things happen in politics in recent times, the party had a candidate of such integrity. "When we get people of Martin's calibre, we need to give him committed support," he said.

Saying he was 'humbled' at seeing so many people turn out for the campaign launch, the candidate said he was a very proud Kildare man from an area which had seen 'huge changes' in the past few years.

"Some of these were positive, some negative," he said. "But I want to make South Kildare relevant again to the people who live in it and who call it home. I want to be part of the change that is going to happen in this country. We may be in a downturn, but there will be real opportunities, particularly in agriculture."

He criticised current Government policies relating to education and the elderly, quoting local examples of where these created real difficulties.

"I want to work for all sections of the community, and I will need your support for this," he told those present, adding that, like a rugby team on the pitch, his core campaign team will need the help of a lot of people off the field as well. "We have 14 weeks to the election, so let's get out there, let's spread the word, and let's get elected."

Below is the slide show from the night.



Brian Byrne.