“One of my skillsets that I can bring to the council is creativity" - Entertainer Richie Hayes on running in local elections

Waterford entertainer Richie Hayes is a Fine Gael candidate representing Tramore and Waterford City West in the local elections.

Richie is known for many for his many escapades in theatre, music, comedy and TV, during which time he represented Waterford across Ireland and the world. He has perhaps most notably appeared in 'The Voice of Ireland' and 'Mrs Brown’s Boys’.

He commented that now is the right time for him to fully delve into politics, and told the Waterford News & Star that his successful artistic ventures will serve him well should he get elected.

“I opened the stage school in Garter Lane, and it grew and grew, and we eventually got our own premises with over 700 students and one of the largest stage schools in the country. We put on some massive productions, which takes a lot of organisation, budgeting, and working with various departments.

He added: “I’ve been self-employed for 25 years, and I know how to make my own way in life and how to navigate, and one of my skillsets that I can bring to the council is creativity.” 

“The business I’m in, it’s extremely difficult to progress even if you have the talent, and once you’re there it’s a very tough world to navigate. I feel I’ve navigated myself as best I can and have done fairly well."

Speaking further on his path into politics, Richie said that the opportunity came after being approached by Fine Gael: “I feel it’s the right time, and it’s a really good opportunity for me personally. 

"I feel that we have probably become a little big stagnant in Waterford. That’s no direct attack on anyone in the council, but there’s a lot of Councillors who have served quite a lot of terms down there, and new blood is a good thing."

He added that there is an air of discontentment currently being felt in Waterford that he hopes to address.

"I lived in America during a time of political turmoil when Trump became president. I saw the positive sides and there was a lot of negative sides and I saw a lot of changes politically, and I think unfortunately we’re starting to see some of those things witnessed here.

“I think there’s a lot of negativity going on and I want to restore pride in people, because Waterford is a great place and we need to instill that back into ourselves."

Key issues Richie raised included senior citizens feeling ‘unheard’ and a backlog of basic fundamental needs in Waterford.

“The world is moving at a very fast pace, and older people are feeling a little bit left behind. They don’t feel they are being listened to as much anymore. People just feel they don’t have a voice anymore.

“Paths, roads, potholes, streetlights, for some reason there’s a massive backlog on all of those basic things. I’m not saying I’m going to get in and get everything fixed, but I do believe that an extra voice from my area, and an extra voice for the senior generations could help."

“I don’t believe the quays should be the way they are, I think the carpark and the way it is, is not right, and we need to make more of the facilities we have, such as the Marina," he added. "We should have the cardiac unit, and we should have the airport. I think we need to put Waterford first and we need to put the best people forward."