Two new faces in politics in Nenagh Electoral Area
The Nenagh Electorial Area has been refreshed with new faces on the political scene after victories in the Local Elections by Fianna Fáil's Ryan O' Meara and Louise Morgan Walsh of the Labour Party.
For Fine Gael, who had an elected representative in the area for decades, it has been a disaster as it was obvious from the first count that the party's new candidate Eleanor Maher was not going to get elected.
After losing out by just 54 votes in the last election in 2019, it was joy at last for Louise Morgan Walsh.
Ms Morgan Walsh, who works as a Clinical Nurse Manager at Nenagh Hospital, is the first woman who has lived in the town of Nenagh to be elected to the council since Virginia O' Dowd's victory in the North Tipperary County Council elections back in 2009.
A Nenagh native, Ms Morgan Walsh swept up much of the support of fellow native Hughie McGrath, the long-serving Independent candidate who retired as a local representative recently.
Ryan O' Meara, the youngest candidate in the field, at 28, performed spectacularly to win a seat after the party failed to gain a foothold in Nenagh in last election five years ago.
Against a background of controversy over government policy on local issues such as health services, lack of housing, immigration, and agriculture his strong showing as a young, well-educated and personable debutant indicates that he has a bright future in politics.
Meanwhile, there were many words of regret and sympathy expressed in the court centre in relation to Sinn Féin's Damian O Donoghue who came close, but not close enough, to securing a seat, mirroring the trend nationally for his party.
The majority of voters in Nenagh kept their faith in outgoing Independent councillors Joe Hannigan, Michael O' Meara and Séamie Morris.
Hannigan maintained his record for topping the poll in every local election he has contested since his entry to politics in 2014.
Like Hannigan, Michael O' Meara of the Lowry Team was elected on the first count, marking his fifth success in successive elections since he first contested a seat on the former North Tipperary County Council 20 years ago.
NEW COUNCILLOR
Speaking to The Guardian at the count centre in Thurles, a beaming Ryan O' Meara thanked all the voters who gave him the “privilege” of representing them on the council.
He said: “I am delighted to get the seat back in Nenagh for Fianna Fáil. The Nenagh Local Electoral area was the only area in Tipperary without a Fianna Fáil seat and to have a councillor located in the Nenagh and Lower Ormond is a big win for the party, and being elected by the people is a huge honour for me.”
He was certainly not put on the ballot by Fianna Fáil as a flash-in-the-pan candidate. A life in politics was something that has been on his mind for many years.
“I guess ten years ago this journey really began when I went to UCD and I started studying Economics and Political Science and then I went on and did a Masters in Common Law.
“I stated working for Jackie Cahill [Fianna Fáil TD for Tipperary] as a parliamentary assistant for the past four years. I really care about this work; I love it, and I'm delighted the people are giving me a chance.”
NERVE-WRECKING
Louise Morgan Walsh, who had to wait to the fourth and final count until her election was announced, said she was absolutely thrilled.
She said: “It has been a nerve-wrecking few days. But I worked very hard over the last five years and I'm so glad to get a seat as the only female representative in the Nenagh area.”
She thanked her Director of Elections Noreen Kennedy, her election team, Alan Kelly, TD, her family and father, Tom, in particular for the huge efforts they put in to helping her secure the seat for Labour.
Meanwhile, Joe Hannigan ruled out any possibility of his fantastic poll-topping performance prompting him to contest another general election. In thanking his family, his team and all who supported him, he pointed out that the level of backing he enjoys seems to be increasing at every local election.
Séamie Morris in an interview with The Guardian said: “I'm very happy with my vote and I want to thank my fantastic team. It was actually the best and easiest canvass I have ever did. The people were very engaging and the weather was good.”
Morris, who was first elected when he topped the poll in the Nenagh Town Council elections 20 years ago, and has won in every local election he contested since then, added: “Most importantly I think people realised that they do need representatives in the town of Nenagh, especially with the departure of Hughie McGrath. That was the message that I got out there.”
First time candidate Iva Pocock of the Green Party said she was disappointed to lose out. “If elected, I intended in particular to be a voice for nature in the Nenagh area.
“I hope now that those who have been elected will be a voice for nature and highlight the declining water quality and the toxic algal blooms in Lough Derg and the desecration of our species due to climate change, which is not going away.”
THE COUNT
NENAGH
Electorate: 18,662
Spoiled Votes: 78
Valid Poll: 10,449
Seats: 5
Quota: 1,742
Turnout: 56.5%
COUNT 1
Hannigan Joe (Ind): 2,233, elected
Maher Eleanor (FG): 738
Morgan Walsh Louise (Lab): 1,210
Morris Séamus (Ind): 1,434
O Donoghue Damian (FG): 1,096
O’ Meara Michael (Ind): 1,822, elected
O’ Meara Ryan (FF): 1,527
Pocock Iva (GP): 389
COUNT 2
Distribution of Joe Hannigan’s surplus
Maher Eleanor: (107) 845
Morgan Walsh Louise: (62) 1,272
Morris Séamus: (151) 1,585
O Donoghue Damian: (24) 1,120
O’ Meara Ryan: (124) 1,651
Pocock Iva: (23) 412, eliminated
COUNT 3
Distribution of Iva Pocock’s votes
Maher Eleanor: (71) 916, eliminated
Morgan Walsh Louise: (118) 1,390
Morris Séamus: (48) 1,633
O Donoghue Damian: (47) 1,167
O’ Meara Ryan: (96) 1,747, elected
COUNT 4
Distribution of Eleanor Maher’s votes
Morgan Walsh Louise: (359) 1,739, elected
Morris Séamus: (218) 1,851, elected
O Donoghue Damian: (45) 1,212