Louise Jordan: A long-time activist, but a first-time candidate in the local elections

"What the hell are you doing putting yourself forward? It’s because I see things around the city that I’d like to get done."

Louise Jordan speaking at her campaign launch in Blackpool Community Centre. Seated on her left is MEP Grace O’ Sullivan. Credit: Eoin Murphy

Blackpool Community Centre was the setting for the official launch of Green Party candidate Louise Jordan on Monday, April 8. Ms Jordan, known for environmental activism, is one of a number of new candidates running in the local elections for Cork City Council this coming June. She is standing in the North-West ward of the city.

Before a decent-sized crowd of locals and Party supporters, Eoin Murphy, Chair of the Green Party in Cork, opened proceedings by speaking glowingly of both Ms. Jordan and Ireland South MEP Grace O’ Sullivan, who was along to lend support at the launch.

“We don’t have enough female representatives among our city councillors and if you don’t see people like you, then you don’t think change is possible” Murphy said. Currently there are only six women councillors out of a total of 31 in the City Council.

“I wouldn’t stand myself because I wouldn’t be able to put up with the criticism, the expectations of the public or the publicity, but Louise doesn’t have much of a road to travel, as she’s so involved in the community already,” Murphy addded.

Left: Louise Jordan Right: Grace O' Sullivan Photo Credit: Eoin Murphy

O'Sullivan was next to speak, and she began with a well-worn and brief history of her involvement onboard the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior, which was bombed by the French government in 1985, which didn’t want the activists protesting nuclear testing being carried out on French Polynesian islands at that time. 

When O’ Sullivan returned home to Ireland after this formative experience, she met Louise Jordan’s sister Mary Jordan O’ Donnell in Bantry, but didn’t realize they were sisters at the time.

“Very often in life we want to give up and I doubt my ability all the time to keep going, but then I meet people that are the backbone of what we do,” O’ Sullivan said.

“You have a brilliant candidate here who is very active in the Green Party, but she’s got her own views as well, she doesn’t just go with the flow.”

“Louise has amazing energy and brought me here to this centre and showed me the importance of the work that goes on here…creating space for diversity and diversity creates strength.”

“That council in there, they need more women and I would say more mature women, people with life experience, because politics is becoming more polarized and we need people who can bring people together like Louise.”

She finished by encouraging those in attendance to “spread your tentacles…and find a way to make sure people know the essence of Louise Jordan…it’s a competition, but keep focused and give her a chance.”

With the introductions completed, Jordan took to the microphone and opened by saying that people have been asking her of late “what the hell are you doing putting yourself forward and it’s because I see things around the city that I’d like to get done.”

Mark Cronin (a Green Party member who ran in 2019 in the NE Ward) proved that there is space for a Green in the area, Jordan said.

“The provision of housing is key. There are enough vacant and derelict houses in Cork to provide a home for everyone. We don’t just need apartment buildings to go up, we also don’t need places knocked down, because the most sustainable home is the existing one,” she said.

“Active travel is also such a fundamental thing, for example there is no footpath between here and Killeens...and maintenance is another massive issue, because you can’t walk down the road without twisting an ankle.”

“At the moment, the Green message isn’t that comfortable with people. Our planet is getting sick and we have to take action, but housing and transport are the main issues.’

Jordan spoke with great warmth about her community; currently there are no serving councillors from Blackpool.

Having worked in social housing for eighteen years and as a special needs assistant for nine years before that, Jordan said she “understands the system and how dealing with the allocation system can be brutal.”

Another issue she said she would tackle is amenities for teenagers.

“There is a monstrous need for (amenities) teenagers in the area. We sometimes get overlooked here because Blackpool falls between St. Lukes and Farranree, but we’re trying. We have the oldest youth club in Cork but there isn’t a youth leader in Blackpool and this is badly needed”

Towards the end of the evening, the audience were invited to put their questions to the candidate. One woman queried whether it was true or not that the city council were buying up homes and competing with first time buyers.

Dan Boyle, Green Party councillor in the South Central area answered, “Yes and no”.

“In the course of the last five years Cork City Council have bought or acquired over 3,500 houses…we’ve done better than most and are going down the right road, but can always do more.”

The evening ended on a lighter note when Jordan was asked how she was finding door to door canvassing. 

“I love canvassing. I love meeting people. But one time I asked a man not far from here, do you have any issues?'Yes,' he said, 'my ex-wife.'"

Moments of humour have their place in politics, especially in Green Party politics, as Jordan has no doubt learned while knocking on doors. The evening ended on that note and tea and refreshments were served in the pristine community centre in Blackpool.

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