Upon completion of the vote tally for the Longford-Roscommon district following the 2002 general elections, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, who ended up unsuccessful, made a pledge.
He expressed a hopeful sentiment of eventually becoming an appointed TD. Flanagan further committed to competing in all subsequent general elections, stating that he would persist in this endeavour until his last breath.
In the count centre where Flanagan made his vow, he had already established a reputation, driven by his unorthodox campaign strategies advocating for cannabis legalisation and his distinguishing goatee – a trait that lent him a remarkable moniker.
Flanagan’s journey since then has been marked by significant milestones. He first served on the Roscommon County Council in 2004, made it to Dáil Éireann by winning the 2011 elections, and then became a European Parliament member in 2014, a position he successfully retained in 2019.
Flanagan is known for his unforgettable goatee, fittingly styled after Ming the Merciless, a trait which he proudly wore while pledging to repeatedly contest in elections until he reached Dáil Éireann. A possible assumption is that his iconic facial hair has played a role in his re-election at Midlands-North-West.
Flanagan stated that possessing a familiar surname such as Doherty or Leyden used to be a prerequisite for electoral victory in his home county. This wasn’t necessarily due to their efficacy, but rather their renown. Hence the birth of ‘Ming’, a sobriquet designed to make him stand out.
The success of Fine Gael’s Nina Carberry, a former jockey on the verge of securing a seat in Midlands-North-West, has highlighted the crucial role of name recognition in European elections, according to Marian Harkin, a former MEP and incumbent TD for Sligo-Leitrim.
“Ming’s recognisability stems from a variety of sources,” articulates Harkin, underlining the significant impact of recognition and visibility in politics.
Flanagan’s attention to agrarian matters, particularly within the Midlands-North-West rural precinct, played a significant role in boosting his presence in this election, suggests Harkin. Identified initially as a Eurosceptic upon his election to Brussels, Flanagan now acknowledges the transformative power of European laws.
Flanagan’s efforts were directed towards the Common Agricultural Policy, with a particular focus on enhancing payments to smaller farmers in his precinct through his proposed amendment. This steered more European finance towards marginal land regions in Connacht. Despite the small-scale farming sector not being traditionally linked with the left-wing political groups, Flanagan, part of The Left group parliament, insists it needs representation.
Harkin opines that while these initiatives do not curry favour in Galway city, they certainly do in Castlebar, assuming one is seen as proactive on rural matters. Flanagan believes his voter base is quite diverse in terms of political affiliations.
His support stretches from small land farmers to individuals advocating for the decriminalisation of drugs, and the legalisation of cannabis, to carers. Due to their diversity, Flanagan suggests, “In a precinct of such vastness, there is an array of issues and people, and one cannot confine themselves to a single area.”
Aiming to reach this diverse demography, Flanagan, accompanied by a limited number of campaigners including his daughter Isabelle, embarked on an exhaustive campaign journey in April, aiming to meet voters in as many Midlands-North-West regions as possible. “My effort led to canvassing in 238 towns,” states Flanagan.
Flanagan, a father of three who is married, dedicated five days to campaigning in Co Donegal. He reportedly received a significant proportion of first preference votes. This can be attributed to his endorsement of homeowners affected by the defective concrete block issue, a pivotal electoral concern in Co Donegal and parts of Connaught. In recent times, he lent his voice to homeowners impacted by this issue and requested an EU investigation into the use of defective mica and pyrite blocks in Irish home construction.
In late 2023, an assessment by a committee from the EU Parliament emphasized the urgent need to rectify the flawed blocks reparation plan of the Government, which was highlighted during their visit to Co Donegal. The voice of Co Donegal in Europe, as dubbed by Ali Farren, a freshly elected representative of the 100% Redress party, is ‘Ming’.
No longer solely invested in the legalisation of cannabis, ‘Ming’ Flanagan is hoping to leverage his return to Europe to advocate for a ‘just transition’; this would enable the radical changes necessitated by the climate crisis to be accessible to everyone.
His judgement is against green strategies that disregard subtleties on how those significantly disadvantaged in society may be impacted.
The issue at hand, as he describes, is a direct challenge to the future of his children, their offspring, his neighbours, and everyone he knows. He insists for an approach to tackling this crisis which makes it feasible for the majority who can’t bear the expense.