Richard Boyd Barrett in a demonstration in Dublin against Israel's military operation in Gaza, 2009

Richard Boyd Barrett (born 1968) is an Irish left-wing political activist. He is chairman of the Irish Anti-War Movement^[1] and is frequently cited in the Irish media.^[2][3][4][5]

He is a member of the Socialist Workers Party, but contested the Dún Laoghaire constituency in the 2007 Irish general election for the People Before Profit Alliance. This identification was intended to broaden his support from non-socialist voters.^[6] In the run-up to the election he attracted support in Dun Laoghaire, following his participation in high-profile campaigns against highrise development, bin and water charges, privatisation of hospitals and support for the Rossport Five.^[6] Boyd Barrett lost to incumbent Ciarán Cuffe of the Green Party, by 9910 votes to 7890 votes in the 10th Count^[7][8] but intends to pursue political office in future local elections.^[6]

Adopted as a baby, he was born to actress Sinéad Cusack, with whom he was later reunited.^[1] This was revealed in the last week of his unsuccessful 2007 Dáil election campaign, during which Cusack, a vocal opponent of the Iraq War, canvassed for him.^[1]

In 2009, he contested the local elections for the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown county council and was elected with 22.8% of the vote, more than 1000 votes over John Bailey, who came second.

[edit] Notes

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