Aontú leader joins local canvas

WATCH: Party confident of bettering 2019 result.

Aontú leader and Midlands North-West European election candidate Peadar Tóibín joined local election candidates in Cavan today (Friday) where he believes the party can make further in-roads following their impressive showing in 2019.

Cllr Sarah O'Reilly topped the poll in the Bailieborough-Cootehill area, while the returning Grainne McPhilips narrowly missed out in the Ballyjamesduff area.

This time out the pair are joined on the ballot sheet by Tinko Tinev, who is set to stand in the Cavan Belturbet area.

Deputy Tóibín visited Cavan Town centre in the early part of the morning, before travelling to Ballinagh to meet with local busiensses and to visit the riverside project being overseen by the Ballinagh Community Enterprise Association.

The Gaeilgeoir will visit Kilnaleck's Súil Eile community café around lunchtime, before moving onto to Virginia Town (2-3pm) and Bailieborough with Cllr O'Reilly (3pm-4.30pm) where he will be briefed on the Bailieborough Town Centre redevelopment plan.

“We're getting a good response, there's no doubt,” said Deputy Tóibín. “One of the things we're hearing out here is that there is a level of anger. That anger is for a number of reasons. There is anger over a political system that's not listening to the people. There's an anger on the immigration issue as well. I think its fair anger. Its people who want to do right by people in need. But they're angry that the government's not listening to them in terms of sustainability or even consultation. That needs to be sorted out fast.”

He says too that there is a sense of “anger” on the streets over a perception that Cavan is being “turned into a commuter belt” for Dublin.

“People are frustration, at feeling like they have to leave the area for work. We need to rebalance this country. We cannot have a situation where the whole country is pouring into Dublin for work, for services. We need to make sure people can live locally, work locally, and not have to commute all the hours god gives them.”