O'Brien says more support in home patch would have won him a Dáil seat

Cllr Patsy O’Brien believes he would have won a seat in Dáil Eireann with "a bit more support" in South Mayo.

Cllr O’Brien, who ran as an Independent candidate in the recent general election, made it to the final count before his elimination, which secured the election of Aontú Cllr Paul Lawless. 

Cllr O'Brien told last week’s Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District meeting he was surprised so many first-preference votes left the South Mayo region. While Cllr O’Brien, his neighbour Martina Jennings and Deputy Lawless, who is from Knock, took over 50% of the votes in Claremorris Electoral Area, Castebar-based Alan Dillon and Lisa Chambers each received over 1,000 votes while the North Mayo due of Rose-Conway Walsh and Dara Calleary received 943 and 803 respectively.

“I want to congratulate the five TDs who will represent us in Dáil Eireann, I have every confidence in them. I also want to commiserate with Martina Jennings,” he said.

“I have no problem with democracy but there’s no way we will survive to see a TD in South Mayo when you see 3,000 votes practically gone out of the region.” 

Cllr O’Brien said there was also a "tsunami" of transfers out of the area.

“The people of South Mayo, I feel again, they’ve been let down. I feel if I got a bit more support, I'd have got a seat.

“It’s unbelievable when you see a transfer of 39%,” he said, referring to Independent Stephen Kerr’s transfer to Paul Lawless. “I have never seen the magnitude of transfers as I have seen in that election.”

Cllr Damien Ryan congratulated Cllr O’Brien and Cllr Gerry Murray, who was not present, for their efforts and wished Deputy Lawless well, adding he will be working closely with him.

“I will be seeking quarterly reports. There were certainly a lot of issues and commitments given that need to be followed through."

Cllr Michael Burke added: “I wish Paul the best. He set out a big agenda and we’ll be expecting a lot.”

Director of the Municipal District Tom Gilligan said he commended anyone who put their name on a ballot paper.

“You have to deal with such negative comments and keyboard warriors. But it is great to see a representative from this municipal district elected,” he said.