The hotly contested South Kildare constituency is gearing up to be a fascinating battle with confirmation today that a school principal, Anita Mhic Gib, is entering the race.
The Kilcullen resident who is Principal of Gaelscoil Nás an Ríogh, in Naas in North Kildare, for the past 18 years has been selected by Aontu, Ireland’s newest political party, led by Deputy Peadar Tóibín .
The fledgling party, ran two candidates in Kildare for the Local Elections, and Anita Mhic Gib says she believes she can build on that, saying there is a “growing resentment amongst people at the wanton waste and lack of accountability that will be the lasting legacy of this Government”.
Mrs Mhic Gib has strong Laois connections too as her husband Maurice Mac Gib, with whom she has five children, comes from Portarlington.
She said: “I have been actively involved in Politics for over 20 years and I believe that this area and this country is being mismanaged so badly, that I just have to stand up and try and be a voice for people who feel totally disenfranchised.
“Aontu polled very respectably in the local elections in Kildare last May, for a party that was then just months in existence. There is a huge appetite for change; people want to be heard and ordinary hard working people in our constituency are tired and frustrated by the run away train that is health, housing, education, crime; this Government has haemorrhaged public money and the worst thing is that nobody is being held to account.
“If ordinary working people made such a spectacular mess of their jobs they would be fired.”
Anita also believes that Portarlington and South Kildare have huge potential.
She said: “Kildare South and Portarlington have massive potential for growth but Government policy has directed investment to Dublin, ignoring our area.
“My Husband Maurice is from Portarlington and regularly points to the fact that it is constantly being ignored by successive Governments in their rush to welcome multinationals.
“While inward investment is very important it should co exist with good supports for indigenous industry. We badly need new industry in Portarlington, Monasterevin and Athy, and promote vibrant communities instead of emptying these towns every day as workers face the long commute to Dublin.
“With just 11 Gardai in the Kildare Drugs Unit and the Laois Offaly Unit being cut to three recently ,the scourge of drugs continues unabated in this area.
“Many communities find themselves with a part time Garda station and an even rarer Garda on the beat.
“Somebody has to shout stop and I promise if elected to be a loyal and loud voice for the people of South Kildare and Portarlington.”
She will be battling for one of the four available seats on Saturday February 8.
