History is littered with the successes of failures  

I am no longer campaigning

I am no longer a Wicklow county council candidate

I am not longer a European Parliament candidate

I am no longer pressed on all sides for my opinion on topics as diverse as youth, LGBT, energy and age

I no longer get to sign pledges with impressive looking organisations

My phone has stopped beeping every two seconds

Journalists have stopped ringing me

Radio stations no longer want to talk to me

TV is no longer calling

I am now officially in a vacuum in which I can draw breathe and relax

So while I failed in my attempt to get elected what were my successes?

I successfully changed the law on April 16, 2014, and from there launched my European campaign

I was successful in earning 11,500 votes from people across the Ireland South constituency

I was successful in earning 250 votes from local Wicklow people

I was successful in speaking on radio with LE candidates

I was successful in speaking on radio with fellow EP candidates

I was successful in appearing on television with fellow EP candidates

I was successful in appearing in print and online articles across the region

I was successful in meeting many wonderful people and listening to their stories

I was successful in meeting my fellow EP candidates and forming a bond with them

I was successful in running a campaign over ten counties

I was successful in enjoying the experience with every bone in my body

I was successful in keeping the issue of debt front and centre

I was successful in helping to people burdened with debt to feel better

I was successful in making the country talk about Europe and ‘not our debt’

I was successful in surviving and thriving on the experience

And I look forward to many more successes from my failures

Thank you!