Cllr Rita McInerney who is widely expected to top the poll in Kilrush today has attributed part of her vote- getting success to her Fianna Fáil family, and the team that surrounds her.
Reacting to her top position in yesterday’s tallies, she said ‘”I am very optimistic, very delighted, shocked really and very surprised at the tallies so far. Transfers will pay a part especially the lowest candidates on the tallies might not necessarily transfer to me so it will all depend.”
“It was very much a team effort. I had people in all corners of the constituency mainly from the party, mainly from Fianna Fáil. It was the Fianna Fáil network. I don’t come from a huge family so the wider Fianna Fáil family paid a huge part definitely. Community people in lots of different places which was key.”
She also paid tribute to her campaign manager, Pat Considine who she said is well known on very doorstep which was key.”
The Doonbeg business woman tallied 1,555 first preference votes in the final Kilrush tally yesterday putting her 355 votes ahead of Independent candidate and Cree native, Dinny Gould who tallied at 1,200.
Cllr McInerney was co-opted to retired councillor Bill Chambers council seat last November, formally taking up her role in January. Political pundits had in general not predicted her vote-getting success ahead of the local election.
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Sharon Dolan D’Arcy covers West Clare news. After completing a masters in journalism at University of Galway, Sharon worked as a court reporter at the Sligo Weekender. She was also editor of the Athenry News and Views.