Maxwell says election is a victory for rural Ireland and common sense

NEWLY elected Louisburgh-based councillor Chris Maxwell said he was overwhelmed by the scale of his vote but it was a victory for 'common sense'.

The Independent Ireland candidate surprised many by the scale of his vote with the people of Louisburgh backing him overwhelmingly to ensure they did not go another five years without a councillor.

Maxwell, who ran unsuccessfully as a Fianna Fáíl candidate in 2019, said that the people of rural Ireland are frustrated and he felt that on the doorsteps.

“We did it for the people of rural Ireland because everyone we met is fed up with what's going on. Common sense is gone out the window in everything people come up against. I want to bring common sense back into our dealings and use the money that is there wisely and sensibly and try to make our communities better for young people and our elderly. People are just frustrated and feel neglected in rural Ireland,” he said.

His closest rival, sitting Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn, described the last three months as a tough campaign and he was relieved it was all over.

“It has been a 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,” he said.

Nervous wait

There was a nervous wait for Brendan Mulroy (FF) and Independent John O'Malley but in the end they stayed ahead of Independent Christy Hyland to retain their seats.

Carrowholly-based Independent John O'Malley said he was delighted to be re-elected for the second time as an Independent and put his success down to hard work in the community.

“It is great to be elected again but it was a very hard slog. I want to thank most sincerely the people who gave me their number one and put their trust in me and I will be forever grateful and look forward to working for them over the last five years.

“I put in a very tough campaign and stood on every door myself and worked nine or ten hours a day for a full nine weeks. The people saw me and talked to me at the doorstep and they knew anything I told them I meant and I will work genuinely hard for them and do the very best I can. I will deliver as much as I can and I will do my best for the next five years,” he added.

Proud day

Westport-based councillor Brendan Mulroy said it was a proud day for him and his supporters to be elected but expressed sympathy to Christy Hyland who lost his seat.

“On a personal level I am absolutely delighted for myself and my supporters, my family and friends who supported me over the last five terms. I have 25 years of politics done at this stage and thankfully I will do 30. I swear to God I am over the moon. My emotions are shot and I am a proud man.

“I am proud of the people who have put me in this position, proud of the people who elected me and the people who always put their faith in me and never doubted me for one minute that I wouldn't be elected. Such a canvass team and circle. I am blessed in life in that way.

“At the end of the day my heart goes out to my former colleague Christy Hyland. It is awful easy to be a winner but it is hard to come here and witness that with his family. I want to congratulate John O'Malley, Peter Flynn and Chris Maxwell. It is important we all work together going forward now,” he said.