Fine Gael’s Martin Conway will be Clare’s sole representative in the Seanad.
The Ennistymon man successfully retained his seat on the Administrative Panel of Seanad Éirean. He was first elected to this panel in 2011 and was the Seanad spokesperson on Justice, Disability and Equality. He is the first visually impaired member of the Oireachtas.
Conway’s first foray into politics was in 2004 when he won a seat on Clare County Council, representing North Clare. He was re-elected to the council in 2009, topping the poll.
However, outgoing senator Tony Mulcahy from Shannon surrendered his seat. He was one of 23 candidates seeking the 11 seats on the Labour panel. He was eliminated in the sixth count.
Following his unsuccessful bid Senator Mulcahy said that one of the first things he has to do is get a handle on his finances. He said that despite perceptions of politics being ultra-lucrative, most of those who have lost their Seanad seats face financial challenges.
“The first thing I’, doing now is closing down what’s going out of the account. That’s the first part and then I have to organise something going into it. There’s nothing your can do. Such is life,” he said.
Sixmilebridge businessman, Councillor John Crowe was unsuccessful in his bid also, being eleminated after a marathon count. The Fine Gael candidate was eliminated on the 31st count of the Industrial and Commercial Panel and finished with 60.799 votes.
Ennis councillor Mary Howard said she had “no regrets” following her unsuccessful bid to win a seat in the upper house.
Nominated by the Drama League of Ireland, Ms Howard was eliminated in the 11th count for the Cultural and Educational Panel, receiving 28,528 votes.
In the space of two months, the Ennis woman was a firs time candidate for the Dáil and the Seanad but was unsuccessful with her bids. “I’ve been in election mode for over four months and I’m looking forward to getting back to reality,” she said.
President of Ógra Fianna Fáil and Ballyea native, Eoin Neylon was eliminated on the seventh counth. He had contested a seat on the same panel as Tony Mulcahy.
Fianna Fái’s Pat Hayes, a member of Clare County, was eliminated from the race for a seat on the Agricultural Panel. The former Mayor of Clare decided not to canvass in this campaign.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.