Irish artist Kevin Sharkey in hunt for 'massive protest vote' as he announces he's standing in general election

Top Irish artist Kevin Sharkey has announced he's running in the general election, saying he's looking for a “massive protest vote”.

The world-famous painter - whose collectors include Kate Moss and Bob Geldof - said that as an Irish black man, he wants to be a voice on immigration issues.

Speaking to the Irish Mirror, Donegal man Sharkey says he believes the Government needs to look after those already living here first. He said: “I’m running as an independent and I'd like to create the biggest protest vote in state history.

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“I think I stand a good chance, otherwise I wouldn't be running. I want to hold the Government to task in a way that a white man doesn’t seem to be able to do for fear of being labelled.

"Currently in Ireland, if you say there might be an issue with immigration, you're branded a racist to shut you up.

“We have a very limited amount of time to tell the Government: enough is enough. The disastrous decisions that the Government are making on behalf of the Irish people is the main thing which has motivated me. There are many problems in Ireland but for me the main one is mass immigration."

Sharkey added: “The Government is essentially allowing a small percentage of the immigrants that are coming to the country illegally to make it bad for all the other ones who come here legally and pay their taxes and raise their children and contribute.

“We need to have this conversation."

Controversial and outspoken, Sharkey has always been vocal about current affairs and hoped to become Ireland’s first black president when he ran for the presidential election in 2018.

He says he has a unique perspective, born in a mother and baby home as the son of an Irish mother and Nigerian father, adopted at six months old and raised in Killybegs. He was a TV presenter, actor and musician before becoming one of Ireland's most successful artists.

He also spoke openly about living in a tent in a camping park in 2016 after falling victim to the housing crisis.

“Everybody deserves a better life but not at the cost of the host nation. If we can’t put our own people into houses, why is it even remotely controversial to say ‘Perhaps if we prioritised Irish people and then we look after everyone else’. Oh God no, that’s racism. It’s not racism, it’s sense."

“Nobody can say I don't like black people - I look in the mirror every morning. This is not about race or religion, this is about numbers."

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