First candidate concedes defeat at election count centre in Portlaoise

AT 12.30am on Saturday 30 November the first of the 12 candidates in the three seat Laois constituency conceded in his attempt to win a seat.

Ken Mooney the People Before Profit candidate said he was conceding that he was not in the running to take one of the three seats.

Early tally figures did not bode well for him as he was polling in low figures.

Speaking at the count centre the 23-year-old said: “ I thought I had a good campaign. I am tremendously proud of the party and what we have done in the campaign here in Laois.

“We conducted an online campaign and spoke with people in local communities around Laois. What we found were the people were affected by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil policies and the ones suffering the worst were the most disaffected and most vulnerable, who feel that they are being completely ignored.” 

Mr Mooney said the three most pressing issues that people spoke to him about during his campaign were: “Housing, wages particularly among young people and the general day cost of living.” 

Asked what will he do next he said: “I don’t have a crystal ball. We’d have to see how the government formation works out. Who knows we could be coming back here to the count centre this time next year for another general election. I would certainly considering contesting another election. But either way if there is another election called in five-years’ time there will be People Before Profit candidates around.”