'Don't make any promises' - Cllr Patsy O'Brien responds to general election question
Mayo County Council elections at the TF Royal Theatre, Castlebar - Patsy O'Brien is deemed elected in the Claremorris electoral area. Picture by: Michael McLaughlin
Hollymount Independent councillor Patsy O’Brien was among those elected in the Claremorris electoral area, topping the poll, when he exceeded the quota of 1,954 on the first count - picking up 2,739 first preference votes.
Joining Cllr O’Brien in the six seats are: Cllr Richard Finn (Independent), Cllr Damien Ryan (Fianna Fáil), Cllr Paul Lawless (Aontú), Cllr Michael Burke (Fine Gael) and Cllr Alma Gallagher (Fine Gael) - who is the first woman to be elected to the Claremorris LEA. Outgoing councillor Tom Connolly (Fine Gael) missed out on a seat.
Cllr O’Brien, who was first elected to Mayo County Council in 2004, has been involved in politics for 47 years. This is his first election as an Independent.
Following his election, Cllr O’Brien was coy when asked the question of if he was interested in running for the next Irish general election.
“I don’t make any promises,” the former Fine Gael councillor told .
“At the moment, my aim is to represent the people of South Mayo. It is up to the public - if they feel that I have a role in the future then I will listen and discuss it with them.
“I have been involved in politics a long time so I know the mechanics of it. I will relate to people and I will do whatever I feel is best for the area that I have represented for the last 20 years.”
