Meet Elaine Mullally who will contest the General Election as an Independent candidate

A Portarlington business-owner will run as an Independent candidate in the upcoming General Election.Elaine Mullally, who owns Clown Around play centre in Portarlington, officially announced her candidacy recently.She joined us on the LoveLaois Podcast and outlined why she has decided to contest the election.Elaine said: "In the last four years, I became completely disillusioned with the whole political system and politicians."It was complete frustration. I was writing to TDs and emailing them about different issues and getting no response."It is like for the last couple of years that they (elected TDs) are not listening to the people who voted for them."It is like we don't exist to a lot of them - not all, as there are good people - but the majority."And especially the parties. Again, they probably have good people involved, but they are just closed off to listening to people."I still am disillusioned. I can't understand how the main parties seem to think they are separate from the people in their towns and villages."18 months ago, Elaine founded Independent Ireland - a then new political party.It started out with three TDs and following the European and Local Elections in the summer, had 23 Councillors and one MEP.However, shortly after, Mullally announced that she had left the party. While Ciaran Mullooly's decision to join Renew in the European Parliament upset many in Independent Ireland, Mullally says this wasn't the only factor in her choice to depart. She said: "I got on very well with everyone in the party but I just felt my voice wasn't being heard. "For me, I felt I was the voice of the people. I wasn't elected and I was on the ground, talking to people. "For the Referendums, I was hearing directly from people that they were voting 'No' 'No' - I was a complete advocate for that and I got it very hard to convince party members to come around to that."Elaine has set out eight 'priorities' on which she will fight her General Election campaign - housing, cost of living, immigration, mental health, small business, farmers, education and crime. As she embarks on her campaign, Elaine will be hosting a series of public meetings across Laois.She says that these meetings are designed not just for her to speak, but to listen to the concerns of her constituents."My public meetings are less about me talking and more about hearing the deep-held concerns of the people of Laois."I want to ensure that I am truly representing their interests on the ground."The first meeting is scheduled for September 3 at 8PM in the Portlaoise Parish Centre.Further meetings will be held in Portarlington Community Centre (Sept 4), Morrisey's Pub in Abbeyleix (Sept 10), Clonaslee Heritage Centre (Sept 12), Mountmellick MDA (Sept 18), Bloom HQ in Mountrath (Sept 19) and Killeshin Hall (Sept 25) - all scheduled for 8pm.