What a week it has been. It was a great weekend for Fine Gael — they couldn’t have asked for more in Carlow Kilkenny. They had been hopeful of securing two seats — but to have gained three was a huge bonus for the party locally.
Phil Hogan was held high as the orchestrator of events, while side-kick John Paul Phelan did the honours and topped the poll. Then in the final hours, up trotted Pat Deering and got all four hooves over the line (well before Bobby Aylward ) gaining himself the last and final seat for the constituency. The party could not have done better! The three candidates were standing tall (all of them are over six feet! ) and were lifted high above the crowds during the final count when their fate was sealed. It was a great moment for the party and for each candidate individually.
But it was also an extra special time for Ann Phelan who was elected to Dail Eireann for the very first time for the Labour Party. Having never contested a general election before, this was the height of excitement for the popular Graiguenamanagh woman. Little did she know — she had nothing to worry about and she ended up taking the first seat in the constituency, as she was first to meet the quota. It was amazing to see how elections have moved forward with new technology and this was a major bonus for Ann as her daughter Jenny was able to watch all the action from the comfort of her own home.... in Perth, Australia while on skype!!
Ann Phelan became the first ever woman from Kilkenny to be elected to Dail Eireann. It was a sweet and an historic moment for her when she was lifted aloft the supporters at the count hall in Cillin Hill.
Neither did John McGuinness have anything to worry about on this occasion -— once again he bucks the trend of the Fianna Fail party. But I think most people thought about it long and hard and decided that they were happier knowing that Deputy McGuinness was in the Dail looking after the needs of the people of Kilkenny rather than not having his voice there at all.
The Fianna Fail presence was less than usual but Deputy McGuinness was not lacking in support. And it turned out that although John Paul Phelan topped the poll and Ann Phelan had the highest number of votes, Deputy McGuinness’s name was the first called to be elected on the day, as his name comes first on the ballot sheet.
It was a thrilling weekend for anyone interested in politics. It was two long days of counting and one would have to congratulate the count staff for their patience. Cillin Hill was a count centre like no other! Gone are the cold and miserable days of hanging around the halla in Thomastown, Cillin Hill was state-of-the art compete with restaurant, bar, media room and ample space in the count hall for one and all. I hope all the readers enjoyed the facebook updates and if you are not already a friend of the Kilkenny Advertiser - please become one immediately. We will keep you updated on what is happening in your area as it happens.
The next big news will be the allocation of the ministries and whether Phil Hogan will bring home the bacon and be allocated a senior position on the cabinet table. One hates to speculate, but I think at this stage Enda owes us! He might even throw in a junior ministerial role to our former Senator John Paul Phelan for good measure — well we did deliver after-all!
Now let the real work begin — the elections are over — let’s see what the new TDs are made of.
Congratulations to all the candidates on their election to the 31st Dail and also commiserations to those who didn’t make it this year — beidh la eile.
