Keira Keogh launches election campaign in Westport

Keira Keogh, Fine Gael General Election candidate for Mayo, launched her campaign in style on Saturday night at Westport’s newest venue, Bar 23.

The packed event, drawing attendees from across Westport, Belmullet, and Ballyhaunis, included Fine Gael members and councillors, local business owners, parents, and advocates for those with additional needs, highlighting Keogh’s widespread appeal and the community’s investment in her candidacy.

_{Fine Gael's four election candidates pictured at Keira Keogh's campaign launch in Westport, from left: Keira Keogh, Alan Dillon, TD; Martina Jennings and Cllr Mark Duffy. Pic: Amayo Photography}

The evening opened with a heartfelt tribute from Keogh to her grandmother - sister of Petie Joe Corcoran and other loved ones who have passed, including, the late TD John O'Mahony. In a nod to Fine Gael’s theme of 'new energy' spearheaded by leader Simon Harris, the choice of Bar 23 underscored Keogh’s fresh approach as a new candidate.

Ivan Fair, a Leaving Certificate student from Young Fine Gael, acted as MC for the event, underscoring Keogh's commitment to empowering the next generation and ensuring a bright future for the party.

Speakers on the night included local Fine Gael representatives such as Cllrs Gerry Coyle and Peter Flynn, Minister Alan Dillon, and MEP Maria Walsh, who all attested to Keogh’s strong business background and her dedication to public service. With nearly two decades as a behaviour consultant for neurodiverse children and an accomplished global career within JCI (Junior Chamber International), Keogh’s leadership is widely recognised as extending far beyond Mayo. In his address, retiring TD Michael Ring passionately endorsed Keogh, expressing his confidence in her ability to carry on his legacy in Dáil Éireann and how seeing her over the line would be ‘the best retirement present’.

Keogh captivated the audience with a powerful speech that showcased her determination and depth of understanding. She acknowledged the strength of her fellow candidates, dubbing them a 'dream team' for Fine Gael.

Among her policy priorities, Keogh addressed road safety, citing Mayo’s alarming increase in traffic fatalities this year. She shared the personal story of Hayley Coleman, a survivor of a recent road accident, to underscore her commitment to making roads safer in Mayo.

Keogh’s speech also resonated with Mayo’s farming community, as she committed to fighting for sustainable family farming. She highlighted issues with the wool market, generational renewal, and the need for flexibility in agricultural policies, including nitrates derogation and CAP expansion.

A lifelong advocate for children with additional needs, Keogh vowed to push for faster assessments and improved services, drawing on her own experiences from a career dedicated to supporting neurodiverse children and families. She also discussed the critical need for childcare reform, housing, healthcare access, and online safety, promising to champion these causes for Mayo’s families and communities.

Keogh closed with an homage to the resilient black-faced sheep she encountered at local sheep shows, likening herself to these resilient and unwavering creatures. “You never see a black faced ewe alone and I can’t do this alone either,” she stated, rallying the crowd to join her in her 'steep climb' to Leinster House. She invited supporters to canvass, make calls, distribute leaflets, and, most importantly, vote #1 for “#Keogh4Mayo.”