Key takeaways from the south Mayo voting
Let’s take a look at some of the talking points from the voting patterns and analyse the franchise of Claremorris district voters.
Patsy rose above controversies
Much of the furore ahead of polling surrounded O’Brien and stories filtering though the national press, however, any sign of that impacting his popularity in his home boxes failed to come to pass. O’Brien hoovered up the support, attracting 75% more first preference votes in the Claremorris area.
Jennings flattered to deceive
The CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice will surely be disappointed with her return in her own area, she needed a strong personal vote if she had any chance of emulating Michael Ring and becoming the south’s first TD since 1977. A short campaign season will surely not have helped and her elimination before Kerr surprised many.
Sinn Féin struggle in the plains of Mayo
The Claremorris area was the only district in which Mary Lou McDonald’s party failed to get over 1,000 first preference votes for one of its candidates. Rose Conway Walsh came close with 943 but the region will be earmarked as a barren landscape for future Sinn Féin politicians, Murray garnered less than 500 there. Their local election performance in Claremorris was poor, their director of elections was parachuted in as a candidate back in June.
Immigration a factor
Councillor Paul Lawless received almost 2,000 first preference votes while the effective Aontú sweeper Kerr also drew a couple of hundred votes in the area. Claremorris has been the site of protests with councillors querying OPW modular homes for Ukrainians and also protests in Ballinrobe which last year made national headlines.
Fine Gael eye the future
The chances of Patsy O’Brien taking another tilt at a general election appear slim, while Fine Gael appear to have an obvious successor. Alma Gallagher will definitely be gearing for a tilt at Lawless as she continues to build a reputation in the council chamber. The Ballyhaunis based community housing worker has time to build from the ground up and will be the next threat towards Lawless as he will be entering into a difficult election and his first as an incumbent.