O’Mahony responds to Carty

O’Mahony responds to Carty

Michael Commins
 
MAYO Fine Gael candidate John O’Mahony has responded to the ‘Roscommon’ remark by Fianna Fáil TD John Carty in last week’s Mayo News.
In an interview with the newspaper, Deputy Carty said, in reference to the fact that John O’Mahony resides in Ballaghaderreen town, that ‘if they [the Mayo electorate] want to elect another TD in Roscommon, that’s their job if that’s what the people want.”
Mr O’Mahony told The Mayo News that he had the utmost respect for all the candidates in the forthcoming election, and faith in the people of Mayo to recognise his Mayoness. “I am a native of Magheraboy, Kilmovee, Co Mayo and I am living in Ballaghaderreen. Part of the parish of Ballaghaderreen around the Cloontia and Derrinacartha areas vote in Mayo. Fianna Fáil’s Sean Flanagan represented Mayo for years and years. He had a house in Ballaghaderreen and in Dublin and it did not impact on his service to his native Mayo.
“I have absolute trust in the people of Mayo to decide whether I am a Mayo person or not. I am totally at ease in allowing the people to decide that. My connections have been with Mayo all my life.
“I’ll be concentrating on a very positive campaign and, while everyone is entitled to their opinion, I want to clarify the matter from my point of view. My head office is in Claremorris. I’m getting around and meeting the people. Over the last six months, I’ve got a great grasp of the issues, especially those relating to east and south Mayo, the problems facing small towns and villages, rural pubs and post offices.”
He said he had become acutely aware of the threats facing the farming community with prices remaining much the same and costs going up all the time. “Farmers these days would need to have a PhD to keep up with all the red tape. The community spirit in rural areas needs to be preserved. It’s what is precious to rural life.”
Mr O’Mahony will not, however, be able to vote for himself in the forthcoming election as he is on the register of electors in Roscommon.