Killian Mangan's socialist credentials 

Waterford man Killian Mangan is in the midst of a hectic election campaign, not just a first for him but as the first candidate of a new party.

Killian is running for Tramore - Waterford City West and with the eco-socialist party Rabharta. 

His aim is to change the way local politics is carried out in the Déise, moving away from the centralised system of Executive versus Council.

He said: "Councillors often have to toe the party line, whereas I never feel like [that]. I feel collectively we [Rabharta] construct the party line from a bottom up approach. 

"I would never be able to be part of any other party because they all have such a kind of top down approach, which is mirrored by the lack of proper local democracy that we have in Ireland."

Before entering politics, Killian studied video game development in Glasgow. 

The Covid-19 lockdowns badly affected himself and his friends' ability to work and make ends meet.

He joined Scottish tenants’ union Living Rent, where he learned more about tenants' rights, and the contrast between tenants' rights in his home country. 

Moving back home, he was faced with an issue familiar to everyone. "I'm following the Irish dream of living at home with my parents in my late 20's," he joked. 

Living and working in the cities of Glasgow and Barcelona raised his understanding of how a city can work for its citizens, instead of vice versa. 

Rabharta is known as the Party of Workers and Carers, focusing on how to create better supports for "one of the most left behind groups in our country, which is carers, paid carers, unpaid carers of children, people with disabilities and elderly people."