Harkin to stand in Sligo/Leitrim as an Independent

The chairwoman of the Council for the West, Ms Marian Harkin, has confirmed that she will contest the next Dail election as an…

The chairwoman of the Council for the West, Ms Marian Harkin, has confirmed that she will contest the next Dail election as an Independent candidate in the Sligo/Leitrim constituency.

Ms Harkin's announcement yesterday ended speculation about her political career after it became known that she had been approached by the main parties.

She has been seen as a strong candidate since the European elections when she took 47,000 first preference votes in Connacht/Ulster and was narrowly beaten to a seat by Ms Dana Rosemary Scallon.

Ms Harkin is a secondary teacher in Sligo town but lived in Leitrim for a number of years and was involved in community work there. She has gained a high national profile through her work with the Council for the West, a lobby group which campaigns for western development.

Ms Harkin said yesterday that although she had "conversations" with a number of parties, it was "never really on the agenda" to join any of them.

"Ninety-five per cent of people who have spoken to me said I would be most effective as an Independent and it would be my best chance of getting elected," she said.

"Sligo/Leitrim has no history of returning Independent candidates and it would be a major change," she added.

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