He has taken the first seat in Galway West at every election since 2002, and it was no different this year, but his victory came neither as quickly, nor as emphatically as on previous occasions.
Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív topped the poll on the first count with 8,522 votes - a strong tally, but only 58 ahead of Sinn Féin's Mairead Farrell and 479 ahead of Independent Noel Grealish. It was also a 1,017 drop from his 2016 performance. Yet conversely, when elected on the eighty count, his combined total was 11,910 - his highest ever, showing the Cornamona based TD remains popular and transfer friendly.
At the count centre at the Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Sunday and Monday, it was noticeable that a common theme among many FF grassroots activists and leading Galway party members, was the importance of recognising that Election 2020 was not simply a protest, but a very real demand for change among the electorate.
"The reality is that Fine Gael have been rejected by the electorate," he told the Galway Advertiser. "They had 76 seats in 2011, that dropped to 50 in 2016, they'e now dropped to the mid-30s. We've returned with less seats than we entered this election with. It is clear the public want change, and that is the thing we have to face up to."
While FG contemplates a possible period in opposition, FF could form part of the next Government in coalition with Sinn Féin, along with the Greens, and to a lesser extent, the Social Democrats. Dep Ó Cuív is open to a coalition involving Sinn Féin, and he noted that "it doesn't seem that the choice or the leader, Michael Martin, a coalition of Fianna Fáil, the Greens, the social Democrats, Labour, and some Independents, is possible".
Regarding any talks that will involve both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin, he said all parties "need to be flexible". He also said that whatever formation emerges needs to have "83, 84 seats minimum" as, "this country needs a stable government. Anything else will be living from day to day." Asked if Michael Martin can continue as leader of Fianna Fáil, Dep Ó Cuív said he did not see any moves to change the leadership "in the short term".
Turning to his own priorities for the 33rd Dáil, the Connemara TD said he will be "looking after the day to day issues that people face", such as housing and health. "In Galway city, traffic is a major issue, and childcare, and they are allied," he said. "Many people are spending three hours above the working day to get to and from work, and have to pay for childcare during all of that time.
"Young people are also under pressure, particularly when it comes to getting a house," he said. "We have to accept that young people want change, and want houses to be affordable, and want to be able to buy a car, and insure it, but not have the insurance cost more than the car."
