Youngest candidate up and running

TWENTY-three-year-old Brian Markham, who this week declared his intention to stand as an Independent candidate for the General Election on February 25, cites the forced emigration of many of his peers as a motivation behind his ambition to represent Clare in Dáil Éireann.

The Kilmurry McMahon-Coolmeen man, who has won about 70 national athletic titles and other major titles while studying in the UK, returned home last September after four years studying history and PE at St Mary’s University in West London.
“The fact is that I could probably count on one hand the amount of my friends that are still left in the country. I’ve been to too many going away parties in the last six months. Even up to last week two friends went to Australia. I left in the middle of the Celtic Tiger. The country was booming. During that four years I wasn’t home too often but it’s only since I came home that I’ve seen in reality how bad it actually is. Fair enough, Ireland has a culture of travelling throughout the world but they shouldn’t be forced to. That’s the way it’s gone,” Mr Markham, who works with O’Flaherty Electrical in Ennis, told The Clare Champion this week.
Therefore, his main priority is to help create jobs. “The best and brightest are leaving the country. They’re going to other countries and they’ll develop their economies. Why not keep them here? There’s a lot of range for job creation, especially in Clare with our infrastructure. We’re two and a half hours from Dublin, we’ve got an airport that needs to be addressed. The fact that it has been downgraded doesn’t help,” he suggests.
While Mr Markham will also campaign on health issues, increased compensation for carers and improvement works on water issues caused by inclement weather, he maintains that TDs are overpaid.
He says that he would use some of his TD salary and expenses to employ graduates, which would aid people to establish themselves in business.
“You could hire two college graduates who have great ideas. New business ventures are not getting the support from experts in their own field or who know what they’re on about. They’re also struggling to get credit. I would look into developing an organisation in Clare for the creation of jobs. Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and Shannon Development should nearly be in the one group. They’re all in for the one goal but they’re pulling in different directions,” he believes.
On the payment front, Mr Markham can’t understand why TDs are so well remunerated.
“There is a huge argument that TDs are drastically overpaid. The taoiseach’s salary is greater than that of the US president. That is an issue that has to be looked at as well,” he says.
Mr Markham insists that he will be well able for the slings and arrows that may whiz around him between now and the last Friday in February.
“I’m well able to fight my corner. I’ve no issues with getting my point across. It’s going to be a great experience. There would be no point in me sitting here with a defeatist attitude saying that I’m not going to get elected. I’m fairly confident that I’ll have a good shot at it. If you concede defeat in a race or in a football game, you’re not going to win,” he maintains.
A former St Flannan’s College pupil, Mr Markham believes that some of Clare’s and indeed the country’s public representatives have had their day.
“It’s kind of an old men’s club. Not being insulting to anyone but a lot of TDs have been elected since the ’70s and ’80s. I think it’s time for fresh opinions and fresh views. The support is growing every day. I’ve a good team behind me of 20 to 30 people who hopefully will give the time. I haven’t come across one bit of negativity yet,” he reveals.
While at university, Mr Markham was active in the students’ union. Now seeking a role on the national stage in Ireland, he says that standing as an Independent won’t weaken his chances of getting elected.
“I think people are fed up with party politics in the country. A lot of people are affiliated with the party to climb the ladder to power. If you’re in a party you’re confined to their manifesto. You might be standing in Clare but the party mightn’t have a vision for Clare. As an Independent you know what the local issues are and you can hopefully raise them,” he suggests.