Flynn ‘relieved’ to be elected after tough campaign

Newly elected Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn said he is relieved to be elected to Mayo County Council after what he described as a tough three months on the campaign trail.

The Westport-based councillor was elected after the fourth count of the Westport Electoral Area after the distribution of his party colleague, Keira Keogh's vote put him over the quota. Flynn received 1,559 first preference votes and received 556 of Keogh's votes to exceed the 1,865 quota by 391 votes.

Flynn was the only sitting councillor to speak in favour of the preferred route option for the Westport to Murrisk Greenway and received a lot of criticism for his stance. He described the last three months as tough and he was relieved to get over the line.

“It has been tough three months and one of the most difficult campaigns I have had coming into an election. It got pretty difficult along the way with some derogatory comments along the way and a lot of social media stuff along the way which I didn't like and doesn't have a place in local politics. We are all there to represent what we believe is the right thing to do for our community in various different ways. I am very relieved to be over the line and sorry that Keira [Keogh] who put in a massive campaign is not joining me in being elected. ,” he said.

Flynn joins Independent Ireland candidate Chris Maxwell, who topped the poll in being elected in the Westport Electoral Area.

The race of the next two seats will be between the three sitting councillors, John O'Malley (Ind), Brendan Mulroy (FF) and Independent Christy Hyland.

Following the distribution of Keogh's vote, O'Malley sits on 1,715 votes ahead of Mulroy on 1,637 and Hyland on 1,588.

The disruption of Flynn's surplus of 391 will decide who wins the final two seats in the electoral area.