Newly elected Labour MEP Aodhan O'Riordan has thanked League of Ireland fans after he was elected to the European Parliament last night as a representative for Dublin. The Dublin native highlighted a wide variety of people who he credited for his election success, one of them being fans from 'The Greatest League in the World'.
One of O'Riordan's campaigning points had been to "bring the cause of football to the government's door", whilst also campaigning to fight for more funding for grass-roots football, women's football and the League of Ireland. Now elected, fans from Dublin and across the country will hope to see improvements.
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Aodhan O’Riordan Thanks League of Ireland Fans After 19-Count Election Win
When asked why he thought there was an increased appetite and reception for Labour's message in this year's election when compared to a dour decade for the party, Aodhan O'Riordan stated that the party "have an alliance of people" who they help. This alliance consisted of "SNA's (Special Needs Assistants), people who hear what we have to say about education, drug policy, people who have autism or have struggles with autism in their family". He continued:
"Even League of Ireland fans"
O'Riordan said that the fanbase helped guide him to electoral success last night, as Labour claimed their first European Seat in Dublin for the first time since 2009, as incumbents Clare Daly and Ciaran Cuffe, and Independent Niall Boylan were beaten to the crucial fourth European seat.
Aodhan O Riordain crediting the League of Ireland fans (amongst others) for getting the Labour candidate over the line
— ciarán lennon (@ciaranlennon) June 11, 2024
One of Aodhan O'Riordan's campaign videos on the day of the Europa League Final in Dublin received lots of credit from Irish football fans, as he laid bare the persistent problems facing Irish Football and the Government's lack of action.
"Dublin is at the centre of Europea Football this week, but football is never at the centre of Irish politics. We need to elect politicians who understand the power of football."
"Football is the greatest anti-poverty, anti-crime, anti-hate weapon that we have. It empowers and inspires, but it is has never been funded enough. Grass-roots football deserves better, the women's game deserves better, the League of Ireland deserves better. I'll bring the cause of football to the government's door for the next 5 years."
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