Edition Bobbett2. Speeches and statements by Elizabeth F. Bobbett
1953 Aughrim, By-election Meeting
Source: Wicklow People, 04.04.1953
Returning thanks to her supporters, Miss Elizabeth F. Bobbett said she had been a long time working for the farmers of Wicklow and for the people of Wicklow in general. She was glad to hear the Chairman say that she had proved a good Councillor, as there was so little that one could do on the County Council to keep down expenses. A certain amount was handed out to them from the Local Government Department and the Councillors had very little say in the matter. That was one of the reasons why she thought it necessary that absolutely independent Deputies should be elected to Dail Eireann. There were far too many people in the Dail who went there just as “yes” men or women. She supposed they thought she had either great cheek or great courage to go forward for a bye-election. It was a very difficult proposition, but she knew that the people of Wicklow were sensible people, and she was sure she would receive a lot of support which they did not realise at the moment. Being a farmer, she could sow oats or potatoes, but she was not so gifted as other women when it came to such tastes as needlework. She would appeal to the women of the County for their support and she felt they would give her very good support. This would be a unique occasion for them because they never had the chance of voting for a woman before.
She had a card from Mr. Wallace Hammond, Member of the County Council, (who had proposed that she go forward), Miss Bobbett said, and he regretted that he was unable to attend the meeting, but wished it to be clearly understood that he was whole-heartedly in support of her. She had always looked to Mr. Hammond for guidance on the County Council, Miss Bobbett said. The fact that she was going to contest the election meant hard work, but with the co-operation of her supporters, if they worked as hard as they had in the milk-strike, she was sure they would get to the top. While she had no love for public life, she felt it a National duty to do all in her power to improve the economy of her country and to bring about a better National outlook among the Irish people. It was a sad state of affairs that the people of Ireland seemed to be losing their love of their country, and that they were leaving it to work in other countries. They should be proud of the fact that they were Irish. They had a good country, and it was a pity they did not see that it was run right. It was the people who were running it who were not right. Their ambition should be to ring a better spirit of goodwill into the assembly that would lead to better times for all of them. She sincerely hoped they would not be disappointed. If she failed, her supporters need not be disappointed on her account; it was she who would be disappointed on their account.