Former Green Party election candidate Saoirse McHugh, from Co Mayo, is to run in the European elections as an Independent.
The Achill Island woman finished sixth during the last European elections in 2019, under the Green banner, when there were four seats available, which will increase to five this June.
She quit the party in 2020 after it decided to form a coalition government with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
Ms McHugh said this weekend: "I've decided to put myself forward as an Independent candidate in the Midlands North West for the European elections on June 7th.
"It's a tough decision to throw myself back into public life and one I don't make lightly but the total lack of vision in Irish politics is infuriating and I feel compelled to act, to at least give voters something progressive to vote for.
"The political landscape is quite different from five years ago. Far-right violence is all around us and is being supported by many politicians, environmental issues have slipped down the priority list as the cost of living soars, homelessness hits record levels and brutal wars dominate our airwaves.
"I believe we must tackle all these issues at once as a people and this will require imagining a better world and working together to make it happen. It will require vision, compassion and co-operation. It will require us to be motivated, organised and courageous because we have everything to lose.
"Campaigns cost money and, unfortunately, money equals visibility so I am asking for whatever help you can give. I promise to do my absolute best to fight for a better world for all of us and I am both humbled and inspired by the support I have received so far. There's so many brilliant people out there and that gives me great hope."
