81-year-old who started Mass boycott will run in Ireland’s elections

The Cork woman who originally called for people to boycott Sunday Mass has announced she will run in the upcoming general election in Ireland for the Green Party.

Jennifer Sleeman from Clonakilty will run as a Green Party candidate after accepting an invitation to represent the party in Cork South West.

A long-time member of the party, the 81-year-old counts climate change and over-dependence on fossil fuels as her top priorities.

“I support the Greens because they are the party that gives priority to things I think are important for my children’s future,” she said.

Sleeman, who has six children, 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, intends to run as a paper candidate, which means she will not canvas doorsteps or appear in posters during the run up to the election.

A well known environmentalist, the Cork woman played an instrumental role in securing Clonakilty as the first Fair Trade town in Ireland.