Ciaran Mullooly says he is confident he can win a seat in the European elections in June.
The former RTE Midlands correspondent said: "I am delighted to announce that I will be a candidate for Independent Ireland in the upcoming European elections, and my goal is to take a seat in the Midlands-North West constituency, so that I can bring into focus the laundry list of issues which need to be highlighted in the European Parliament."
The Midlands-Northwest constituency involves 15 counties, including all of the Shannonside Northern Sound region.
Independent Ireland is a party with three TDs - Roscommon-Galway deputy Michael Fitzmaurice, along with Michael Collins and Richard O'Donoghue.
Mr Mullooly lives in Ballyleague and is originally from Lanesboro.
He worked for RTE for 27 years before announcing his retirement in 2021, and currently works for Longford Tourism after a job with Roscommon Leader for three years.
Mr Mullooly says he has been deeply committed to rural Ireland over the past three decades, both as a broadcaster and in community development.
He added: "These projects focused on disability support, tourism promotion, sports and recreation, suicide prevention and many more issues that are near and dear to people of Rural Ireland.
"As RTE Midlands Correspondent, I witnessed the growing frustration of rural communities.
"Rural Ireland has been grossly neglected and I am prepared to stand up and shout stop, to quote another man from the world of journalism – the great rural champion, John Healy.
"I am putting myself before the electorate on June 7th because I want to play my part in bringing about badly needed, long-overdue, positive change.
"I have worked with voluntary committees to help set up key projects such as the first Pieta House Centre in the Midlands in Athlone, the QUAD Youth Centre in Roscommon town and the Lions Clubs of Ireland’s Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training programme across 14 counties.
"So, I am acutely aware of the many public policy issues which are making life tougher for hardworking volunteers in every corner of the country.
"From my time working closely with disability advocacy groups and spearheading rural tourism projects, I've seen firsthand the challenges and triumphs of rural life.
"I step into the political arena with a clear mission: to be an effective voice for rural communities and to strongly and unapologetically represent their interests at a European level."
Mullooly says the decision to join Independent Ireland was an easy one for him to make.
He added: "The party’s focus on local issues, grassroots activism and tangible solutions to real problems resonates with my values and convictions.
"Together, we will work tirelessly to ensure that the concerns of rural Ireland are not just heard but acted upon.
"Those who know me know that I am not a shrinking violet. When Michael Fitzmaurice TD, invited me to join Independent Ireland, I made it clear I would not be a mouthpiece for anything or anyone. My sole concern was a truly progressive plan for the regeneration of our rural communities, an ambition I know Michael shares and has shared over his time in activism and politics.
"We have agreed on a clear strategy for progress in urban and rural settings, with the cooperation of party members, the region’s fantastic voluntary sector and the progressive new communities dotted all over the constituency.
"Now is the time for change. Now is the time for the communities of rural Ireland to reclaim their power and shape their individual and collective destinies.
"I am confident I can win a seat in the European Parliament and continue to work to deliver for the people of this constituency.
Welcoming Mr Mullooly to Independent Ireland, Deputy Fitzmaurice said: "Ciaran is a straight shooter and a hard worker. He is a formidable candidate to represent the people of Midlands-North West.
"Mullooly is our candidate for Europe. His dedication to and understanding of the challenges facing rural communities make him a uniquely qualified candidate.
"I have first-hand experience of just how dogged Ciaran is when he working to achieve a goal for his community. He leaves no stone unturned and in having assisted him with some projects in recent years, such as the Lough Ree Access For All project, I can say this for certain, if Mullooly is on the job, the job will get done.
"Common sense is a rare thing in politics these days, and I have every faith that Ciaran will deliver a seat in Europe for the Party of Common Sense, in June."
