‘Losing by one vote was a massive driving force … I was going to give 100% to this’

“OH MY GOD, I can’t believe it … I’m not one vote short today,” said an elated Catherine Callaghan as she was held aloft by jubilant family and supporters in the count centre.

The Kildavin woman made history at the weekend by not only becoming the first female Fine Gael candidate on the ticket in the Carlow/Kilkenny constituency but going one better and landing a coveted seat. It’s the first time in over a decade that Carlow has held two seats in this five-seat constituency.

It’s been a phenomenal reversal of fortune for Catherine who, just six months ago, lost out at the local elections in the Tullow LEA by a single vote.

But Catherine’s determination, energy and sheer will to represent the community kicked in, turning that heartbreaking loss into a history-making election win.

“The next day after the second recount at the local elections I thought … what am I going to do with all this energy, this desire to represent my community?” Catherine told The Nationalist.

“Losing by one vote was a massive driving force, it really copper-fastened my belief that each and every vote counts and that I was going to give 100% to this,” she said.

Catherine sincerely thanked all those who voted for her, reflecting that on almost every ballot paper across the constituency she received votes. She thanked her family and campaign team, adding that this election win wasn’t about her, but everyone who had worked so hard.

“It’s great to know that all the hard work paid off,” she added.

Catherine stated that among the first issues she would like to see tackled was greater support for children with autism, in terms of school places and services. She also vowed to secure answers on the much-anticipated new development of Holy Angels.

Fianna Fáil’s deputy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor was delighted to be re-elected to the Dáil and vowed to continue the hard work and commitment to her native Carlow which has been the hallmark of her first term in Leinster House. She, too, was held aloft by her supporters when she was declared elected at the count centre in Loretto College, Kilkenny, proudly flying the Carlow flag above her head.

Jennifer thanked her family and campaign team for their unending support and the people of Carlow, who voted for her in such numbers, placing her the highest-polling Carlow-based candidate on first preferences.

“I’m delighted to be back and working again for the people of Carlow … it’s an honour. It’s been an incredible result for Fianna Fáil in Carlow/Kilkenny; in no other county in the country has Fianna Fáil managed to get three-seats in a five seater, so we really broke the mould. It’s a huge achievement,” she said.

“There’ll be a lot of work over the coming weeks when it comes to forming a new government, but it will be done,” she added.

Jennifer cited housing as one her top priorities when the new Dáil term begins, pressing the need for greater numbers of houses to be built.

Election success isn’t the only celebration that Jennifer and her family will enjoy this week, as the family turns from political concerns to matrimonial matters, with Jennifer’s son Aaron getting married this Friday in St Fiacc’s Church, Graiguecullen.