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Ciaran Mullooly

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Ciaran Mullooly (born 4 September 1966) is an Irish Independent Ireland politician who has served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Midlands–North-West constituency since July 2024. A former journalist, he worked for RTÉ from 1993 to 2021, where he was the RTÉ News Midlands correspondent for 26 years.

Ciaran Mullooly
MEP
Member of the European Parliament
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 July 2024
ConstituencyMidlands–North-West
Personal details
Born (1966-09-04) 4 September 1966 (age 58)
County Longford, Ireland
Political party
Children2
Websiteciaranmullooly.com

Media career

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Mullooly started his career with the Longford Leader in 1985, before moving to the Cavan Leader newspaper aged 20.[1] He joined RTÉ in 1993,[2] where he worked on Ear to the Ground, and was the RTÉ News Midlands correspondent from 1995 until 2021.[3][4][5]

After retiring from RTÉ in June 2021, he worked as a tourism activator for Longford County Council.[6][7][8] Mullooly is a published author and has written three books.[9]

Mullooly had been courted by Ireland's establishment parties "for decades" to run for office, however, he always refused to run.[10]

Political career

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Mullooly's logo during the 2024 European Parliament elections

In April 2024, he announced his intention to run for Independent Ireland at the 2024 European Parliament election for the Midlands–North-West constituency.[11] In his announcement Mullooly stated that "Common sense must prevail. The political system has failed this community" (the Midlands) specifically citing the environmentalist group, Friends of the Irish Environment, successfully blocking a flood relief pipeline and the damage this has caused the Midlands, as a fundamental draconian failure of European policy and guidelines.[12] Despite the right-wing rhetoric of Independent Ireland, Mullooly stated that "I would have said that I was a centrist" and took soft positions on energy, SMEs, and migration.[13]

Mullooly was heavily criticised by his Social Democrats opponent, Rory Hearne, as a "hypocrite" for supporting community values while also running for a party that opposes immigration.[14] Hearne also claimed Mullooly had "no solutions" and further criticised Mullooly for not opposing landlords.[14] Mullooly "utterly reject[ed]" Hearne's claims, stating that "I support the right of those fleeing conflict and oppression to seek asylum here but feel our present system is not fit for purpose".[14] Mullooly ran a grassroots campaign, with a staff of just 20, answering phone calls himself and running his staff like an RTÉ newsroom.[15][10] Mullooly centered his criticism on the greens stating that "We all agree with the transition" (to renewable energy) but "that the transition hasn't worked out".[10] Mullooly also focused on agricultural issues, such as supporting the use of nitrogen fertilisers.[16] Mullooly was not included in RTÉ's European election TV debate, after which he heavily criticised RTÉ, claiming it willfully ignored opinion polls that qualified him and that his exclusion was politically based.[17]

Mullooly was elected as an MEP, taking the fifth seat in Midlands–North-West.[18][19] Mullooly performed particularly well in County Offaly.[20]

He took office on 17 July 2024, joining the European Democratic Party and sitting with the Renew Europe parliamentary group.[21] Mullooly's decision to join Renew attracted significant criticism,[22] with fellow candidate Niall Boylan stating he would have joined the European Conservatives and Reformists if elected.[23] Independent Ireland chairperson Elaine Mullally, who resigned her position shortly after Mullooly joined Renew, later said that it had been the "catalyst" for her to leave.[24][25][26]

Personal life

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Mullooly lives in Ballyleague, County Roscommon with his wife and two children.[27]

References

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  1. ^ "Back to the Future for Mullooly". Anglo Celt. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  2. ^ Thompson, Jessica (30 June 2021). "'End of an era' for Lanesboro's Ciarán Mullooly". Longford Leader. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Ciaran Mullooly – Midlands Correspondent". RTÉ. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Ex-RTÉ correspondent Ciaran Mullooly says he 'hates election counts'". BreakingNews.ie. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Ex-RTÉ journalist Ciaran Mullooly to contest EU elections". RTÉ. 6 April 2024.
  6. ^ Power, Jack (23 June 2021). "RTÉ midlands correspondent Ciarán Mullooly to retire". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  7. ^ Thompson, Jessica (30 June 2021). "'End of an era' for Lanesboro's Ciarán Mullooly". Longford Leader. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  8. ^ Hurley, David (2 January 2024). "Former RTÉ Midlands correspondent Ciaran Mullooly to take up new Longford tourism role". Ireland Live. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  9. ^ "PICTURES | Great afternoon in Longford library as Ciarán Mullooly launches his third book 'The Future is Now'". Longford Leader. 23 September 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Sheridan, Kathy. "'Celebrity' election candidates: On the campaign trail with Ciaran Mullooly, Nina Carberry and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Former RTÉ midlands correspondent Ciaran Mullooly to run in European elections". Irish Independent. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  12. ^ Canny, Richard. "Former RTÉ journalist Ciaran Mullooly confirmed as Independent Ireland European election candidate". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  13. ^ Hubert, Thomas (June 2024). ""I would have said that I was a centrist": Mullooly on energy, SMEs, and migration". thecurrency.news. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  14. ^ a b c Ryan, Philip (3 June 2024). "Rory Hearne accuses Ciaran Mullooly of 'hypocrisy' in scathing attack on Independent Ireland". Irish Independent. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  15. ^ Walsh, Andrew (10 June 2024). "'In the mix for the fifth seat' - Ciaran Mullooly speaks ahead of first European Election count". Longford Leader. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  16. ^ McCarron, Jack; Coughlan, Mark; McDonald, Kate (15 June 2024). "Beyond the banner: who was elected for Independent Ireland?". RTÉ News. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  17. ^ Walsh, Alan (19 May 2024). "Former RTÉ correspondent Ciaran Mullooly unhappy over exclusion from first major European election TV debate". Longford Leader. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  18. ^ "RTÉ Elections 2024, European Elections". RTÉ News. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  19. ^ "All Irish MEPs elected as count closes in Midlands-North-West". RTÉ News. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  20. ^ "Early signs positive for Mullooly in Offaly". Offaly Independent. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Mullooly to join Renew group in European Parliament". RTÉ News. 3 July 2024.
  22. ^ Scott, Claire; O'Connell, Hugh (13 July 2024). "Renew wasn't Mullooly's first choice in Brussels". The Times & The Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 September 2024. Despite attracting significant criticism for effectively throwing his lot in with Fianna Fail after running on a "common sense" platform, Mullooly's party defended his decision in an extraordinary nearly 2,500-word statement issued on Wednesday.
  23. ^ @@Niall_Boylan (3 July 2024). "It's quite shocking that Irish Elected MEPs who ran on ticket for change would join a grouping in favour of the EU Migration Pact. Had I been elected the @ecrgroup would be the obvious group for real change and to be the voice of the people" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. ^ Conway, Eve (12 July 2024). "Mullooly joins European Democrats amidst Independent Ireland chaos". Offaly Independent. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  25. ^ Comerford, Mark (11 July 2024). "Independent Ireland postpone Portlaoise meeting amid unrest among the ranks of new political party". Laois Today. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  26. ^ "Mullooly Joining Renew Was 'Catalyst' For Independent Ireland Co-Founder To Leave". Midlands 103. 9 August 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  27. ^ Fetherstonhaugh, Neil (24 June 2021). "Veteran RTÉ newsman Ciaran Mullooly shows his sons around Donnybrook before retirement". Sunday World. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
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