Fine Gael's Catherine Callaghan doesn't rule out further election bids

A LOCAL election candidate who lost out on a council seat by a single vote has not ruled out running in a byelection or making a Dáil bid if the opportunity arises. Fine Gael’s Catherine Callaghan lost out on the final seat in the Tullow Local Election Area by a single vote, following two rechecks in a dramatic, tension-filled conclusion to the count. Catherine was within four votes of the fifth seat in that six-seat Tullow area and within a single vote of the final seat, but alas, that elusive vote didn’t materialise.

Three weeks on, Catherine says that as the dust has well and truly settled now, “I find myself in a period of reflection on everything that has happened. It was very clear to see how professional, precise and thorough Carlow County Council staff were in the count centre under the watchful eye of returning officer Eamonn Brophy - all the count centre staff were impeccable”, said Catherine.

“Running for Local Government has been an all-round enlightening experience, especially for an ordinary person like me - I don’t hail from a political family or even a family that’s very well known in the area. In fact, a substantial number of Clonegal residents vote in the Enniscorthy district and unfortunately for me that includes all my first cousins, but I have to say I’m so grateful to everyone who backed me, voted for me and supported me in the recent local elections and in the aftermath also - I’m only sorry I couldn’t secure a seat for them in return,” she said.

Catherine polled a very respectable 614 first preference votes. And interestingly, more than 400 of the second preference votes of Independent cllr Charlie Murphy’s ballot papers opted for Catherine, an outstanding performance on her first outing. Clearly, the fact that she only needed one single vote more to get across the line brings into focus how close she came to becoming the first-ever female county councillor elected by the people of Tullow Municipal District.

“While yes, it is a pity, I’ll have to wait another five years before I can run again in the local elections, I am a patient person and I’ll continue to be a very active member of my community and I’m only too happy to make representations to Carlow County Council on people’s behalf,” said Catherine.

When the subject of a possible Carlow/Kilkenny byelection or general election was mooted, Catherine smiled. “Now is the time for me to reflect on what has happened in the locals. I’ll certainly be taking my substantial learnings from my maiden campaign forward with me, but what the future holds - who knows? All I’ll say is I’m not giving up on my desire to represent my community.”