Louise Jordan, Green Party, Cork North-West, Cork City Council Candidate Elections 2024

Hello everyone again. Welcome back to this blog about the Green Party candidates for the Cork City Council elections in 2024.

The candidates are thinking and preparing ahead of time, which is a good thing. You know what they say about the early bird catching the worm, you can never be too prepared. I've introduced two of the other candidates in the previous posts. Each of whom represent a different electoral area of Cork City.

With Green Party colleagues, outside MEP  Grace O'Sullivan's office, Washington Street.

This time we're looking at Louise Jordan, who will be representing the North-West ward of Cork.

Louise,  is among the minority of female representatives in the city group. 

As you may have heard and read before now, that it is difficult to raise the number of female candidates as a whole, so let's give her as much support as we can.

Good Morning  Louise, you're welcome here to a chat mixed with tea/coffee and a little politics.

Which is your preference for a cuppa in the morning?

I always drink tea. I might have a cup of coffee later, I very rarely have coffee in the morning.

Why is tea your choice?

Coffee doesn't do it for me.

What memory does drinking tea conjure up for you?

I don't have any memories as such. Tea is just comfort and warmth and a bit of stimulation, of course.

It's great to have you here for a chat. Tell us a little more about yourself and what drew you into politics?

The primary one is concern for the environment and we don't have much time, so we have to speak up. We cannot let things go.

On housing policy, we have to stand up against the right wing politics, because not a lot of houses were built during the Fine Gael era. and now we're reaping the benefits of that.

Also I live in Blackpool, Cork, where the representation of people has been nil. Even though TDs live in the area, they do not represent the people of Blackpool. and even if and when the people speak up, they are not listened to.

As Blackpool is an old post-industrial village, people are used to been downtrodden and I just can't stand the injustice of that.

So now that I'm a candidate for the North-West (electoral) area.

Now that you're a candidate for the North-west area of Cork City, what does this mean for you?

It's a big responsibility to represent the Green Party and at the same time keep my own integrity.

What are your goals as you head towards election in 2024/

To get to know what people want from their representative and to visit every corner of the ward.

As a Green Party candidate, what difference does this make and how, do you think, can the Green Party make a difference to what has gone on before?

Yes it makes a difference being a Green Party representative. FF/FG work as a cabal in the council and always represent business and profit. There is a need to be represented and not by "bottom line" issues.

Do you think you'll get elected?

Yes.

You've been involved on a local level in various local concerns for some time now, would you talk a little about one of those concerns?

I am the chair of Blackpool Community Centre. We have a very valuable facility that supports many groups, as well as doctors, a Ukrainian hub and a Citizens Information Centre. I am also on the board of Blackpool Credit Union, as I believe Credit Unions provide a vital service as a Community Bank system. The first local issue I got involved in was "Save our Bride Otters". The lovely river that flows through Blackpool is being threatened with culverting. I am part of the group that successfully achieved a Judicial Review about this issue of culverting.

You're clearly very committed to helping people on a local level, what kind of feedback do you get from people that indicates you're going in the right direction?

Very positive reaction from people at the door. There are days when my phone keeps ringing on different issues. I'm looking forward to being in the council and getting action on things.

The electoral area is quite large and spread out, have you had a chance to visit all the areas and get involved in their concerns and needs?

I have contacts in every area and am getting out canvassing to every area. Facebook is useful for noting the issues in the areas.

And finally, one last question, what are your hopes for the future, other than being elected?

I hope people see sense and stop trying to culvert our river. I want to see people reconnect with Nature. Time is running out, if we don't change our behaviour.

Thanks Louise, that was absolutely inspiring and enlightening. I'm so glad to see how involved you are in your community.

I do hope you get elected as it looks like you're a great worker and want the best for people in your area and are willing to work hard to achieve goals and resolutions of issues. i 

I wish you the best of luck. Perhaps you'll come back  for another cuppa and an update on your progress as a candidate.

Canvassing in Blarney, with Green Party colleagues and supporters. 

Canvassers are hard-working supporters, so give them a good time when they call, or even better still, join in and find out what it's like to call at people's door and hear what people's concerns are about what they want from the council.

Louise has given her details on the pamphlet here.

Louise with colleague Councillor Oliver Moran at the open day on zBus Connects in Blackpool.

Just to make it easier for you, her contact details are :

Mobile 087 968 3138.

Twitter; louezejordan

Email: louise.jordan@greenparty.ie.

Facebook : LouiseJordanGreen

(Written by Celine Spengeman for everyone and everything green).