Gavin Elliott

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Fine Gael's Helen McEntee both launched attacks on Catherine Connolly today. Although Martin's was more veiled, McEntee accused Connolly of hypocrisy as she raised questions on her role in aiding banks in repossessions jrnl.ie/6848566t

I’m deeply honoured to have been elected as a TD for Cork South Central. A huge thank you to the over 5,000 people who went out in the rain on Friday to put a number 1 next to my name. I really appreciate the support. This is a historic breakthrough for the Social Democrats as it’s the first time we have won a seat in this constituency. In Cork South Central, we ran a really energetic campaign. We knocked on thousands of doors right across the constituency. I had a fantastic team of volunteers who put their hearts and souls into it. Our campaign was positive, progressive and solutions-focused – I think that really resonated with people. I would like to thank everyone I met during the campaign. On the doors, people shared their worries, hardships and concerns. One thing is crystal clear: people want to see real change in relation to housing, healthcare, disability, childcare and climate. I hope this election is the catalyst for that change.