Sarah Harte: Could a new crop of independents harness anger and come together?

The lens in rural Ireland has always been different. Ignoring their concerns just plays into the hands of populists

The lens in rural Ireland has always been different. Ignoring their concerns just plays into the hands of populists. File picture

PREDICTIONS about the political future are difficult but a movement may be growing in rural Ireland. Depending on your perspective it has its roots in social conservatism or simply in ordinary voters disillusioned with the status quo or maybe a combination of both.

What do I mean by movement? First, many candidates are running in the upcoming local elections on platforms that promise local answers to local problems and “common sense”.