Offaly candidate: contrast between what was said on doors and votes cast

THE Independent Ireland candidate in Offaly, Cllr Fergus McDonnell has described the vote he received as disappointing.

Cllr McDonnell, speaking in advance of confirmation that he got 2,074 first preferences, which grew to 2,194 with transfers before his elimination on the third count, noted a contrast between what he was told during the campaign and what had happened in the privacy of the polling booth.

“Personally for me it's disappointing. But one has to accept democracy's at play. The opinions and views expressed on the door and on the canvass, and me and my team did a very big canvass, but certainly it's two contrasts,” he said.

“What was said on the door publicly and what's looking like coming about today are two opposites and that's very hard to figure out and I think it would take some research to even attempt to figure it out.”

Cllr McDonnell said there was no pattern to how people had voted and it appeared that some had supported candidates as individuals instead of party affiliation.

“I wouldn't think many know many of the candidates personally.”

At the same time, the Edenderry man said the election had shown a “massive outpouring” of dissatisfaction with the Government.

“To figure out, that people would have that view and be that outspoken, and then go into a ballot box in the cold light of day and do the complete opposite of that. I don't understand that... there's no logic to it.”

He said he had seen transfers which were going unexpected directions and he did not how it could be interpreted.

In the case of Carol Nolan's victory he said: “You have to acknowledge success and effort and work rate and incumbency is a huge plus.”