A heartbreaking day for FF in Mayo and Castlebar

The Fianna Fáil party in Castlebar, as well as Mayo in general, has suffered a heartbreaking and devastating blow due to the failure of Senator Lisa Chambers to win back the Dáil seat she lost in the 2020 general election after a term in office.

She was eliminated shortly before noon today following the announcement of the sixth count by Ann Marie Courell, returning officer, at the Mayo Count Centre at the TF Royal Theatre.

Her last, lingering hope of staying in the race faded away when 297 transfers from Charlestown Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry Murray were not sufficient to put her ahead of Fine Gael Councillor Mark Duffy, who attracted 322 from his Mayo County Council colleague.

That left Duffy still fighting for his life on 6,906 while Chambers was forced to walk off the political field with 6,709.

The confirmation of her elimination seemed like it marked the end of an era for Fianna Fáil in Castlebar.

While there had been no declarations or announcements from Lisa herself, nobody can rule out her returning to An Seanad, such is the high regard in which she is held in and around the Oireachtas and Leinster House.

But the reality of politics is such that she is unlikely to be a candidate for the party by the time the next general election comes around.

So close observers of the local political scene would not be overly-surprised if she returns to the Bar and further develops her career as a barrister.

That's all for another day, however.

But those close to Lisa will a certain regret that her huge potential as a national legislator will never be fully realised.

In the meanwhile, the pressure will come on the FF organisation in Mayo - and particularly in Castlebar - to review its strategy in regard to future general election planning.