"We knew it was going to be an uphill struggle" - Kildare Cllr Angela Feeney

Labour councillor for Maynooth and general election candidate, Angela Feeney, said she has “no regrets” having being eliminated from the count in Punchestown for General Election 2024 on Sunday 1 December.

Cllr Feeney pointed to the “upward struggle” of contesting in retiring Social Democrats TD, Catherine Murphy's stronghold, and said that while she was disappointed, it's business as usual for the popular councillor.

Cllr Feeney told the Leinster Leader: “It's disappointing, but we knew it was going to be an uphill struggle in Catherine Murphy's stronghold, we knew it was going to be a battle on our hands.

“Look it, it's disappointing but we put in a great campaign and that's all you can do, you can say you gave it everything. But it is disappointing of course.”

Eliminated on the ninth count in Punchestown on Sunday, Cllr Feeney said she had “a very positive, a very honest” campaign, and had “no regrets.”

She added: “I think if you can say at least that you gave it everything with integrity, that's as good as you can say.

“Look it, it wasn't our day but on a national scale it's great to see Labour doing so well, me and my Labour comrades and colleagues doing so well around the country. We've grown our seats, so that's a very positive thing.”

Cllr Feeney said that she will continue with her councillor work in the Celbridge-Maynooth municipal district, for which she will attend an MD meeting this Friday (December 6).

She added: “I'd like to thank all of my team, all of my supporters, all the people who voted for me, because a lot of people did vote for me and gave me their confidence.

“So I'd like to thank all them and particularly my team, I'd like to thank my campaign manager, Eoin Coates, my director of elections, Dave Moynihan, and all the people who supported me, including Labour head office.

“People sent me lovely messages of support, and even since I was eliminated a lot of people said, 'the silver lining Angela is we still have you as our local councillor.'

“It was a positive campaign and a once in a lifetime experience to be selected and to be in that position, and I've no regrets.”