South Mayo has a unique chance to return a local TD

Three candidates from the Claremorris area have already declared for the upcoming general election. 

Robeen-based Independent Cllr Patsy O’Brien was the first to announce his intentions followed by another councillor, Paul Lawless, of Aontú. Then on Friday last, Fine Gael announced that Lahinch woman Martina Jennings would be on their ticket for the Mayo constituency. There may be others before polling day.

Patsy O’Brien was first elected to Mayo County Council for Fine Gael in 2004 and has held his seat ever since. He topped the poll in four of the five elections since then and was the first candidate to be declared elected in each election.

Patsy is a farmer and former CIE employee and declares himself a "common sense politician". He says the return of the area around Ballinrobe, Kilmaine and Shrule that went into Galway West in the last two elections presents a realistic opportunity for South Mayo to return a TD for the first time in nearly 100 years. 

William Sears, from The Neale, a pro-Treaty TD and Senator, was the last TD in the southern end of Mayo. He lost the seat in 1927. Martin Finn, PJ Morley, Jim Higgins, John Carty and John O’Mahony all represented the area from bases in what was classed as east Mayo.

Cllr O'Brien believes independents will have a big role to play in the formation of the next government.

Aontú’s Paul Lawless was elected to Mayo Co Council for the first time last June, having unsuccessfully contested the 2019 local election and the 2020 general election when he received 2,574 first preferences. 

Cllr Lawless is based in Knock, teaches in Ballyhaunis Community School and plans to live in Claremorris. He has been a vocal critic of the Government’s handling of housing, public expenditure, immigration policy and healthcare. He says he is getting a huge response on the doorsteps this time round, and believes that the country needs a strong and credible opposition, which he believes Aontú can provide.

Fine Gael’s Martina Jennings has never been tested electorally. She is the current chief executive of the Mayo Roscommon Hospice and has won many individual awards including Mayo Person of the Year in 2020. 

Ms Jennings told the Western People that Fine Gael approached her and she was “glad to see them coming". She says she admires what Fine Gael have done in government during the past five years and hopes to build on that. Ms Jennings said she has a proven track record of delivery of large-scale projects for the benefit of the people of Mayo, and the area needs a strong voice in the Dáil.

The constituency will return five TDs on this occasion – having gone back up from four. With the retirement of Michael Ring, there are only three sitting TDs contesting the five seats – Dara Calleary of Fianna Fáil, Rose Conway-Walsh of Sinn Féin and Fine Gael’s Alan Dillon. This means that two of the TDs elected will be first-timers. This is a unique opportunity for the south of the county to elect a local TD.