Ní Riada to contest Seanad election as Independent candidate

The former Sinn Féin MEP for Ireland South and unsuccessful presidential election candidate, Liadh Ní Riada, is to dip her toe in the electoral fray once again as she has been nominated by Irish language cross-border body Foras na Gaeilge to contest for a Seanad seat on the five-seat cultural and educational panel.

Speaking to The Echo last night, Ms Ní Riada, who is the director of Ionad Cultúrtha an Dochtúra Ó Loingsigh in the Gaeltacht Mhúscraí village of Baile Mhúirne, said that she would be running as an Independent candidate.

She added that she was still on good terms with her former party, Sinn Féin, and she stressed that she would be seeking votes from all the parties.

“If elected, I will be speaking entirely as Gaeilge in the Seanad,” Ms Ní Riada, who is a native Irish speaker, said, pointing out that during her time in the European Parliament she went on a language strike, speaking only in Irish, a measure which led to the Irish Government allowing Irish to become an official working language of the EU after years of delay.

“If I did that in Europe, I will certainly do it my own country.”

Councillors, TDs, and sitting senators have votes in the Seanad election for the different panels.

Polls close at the end of January.