Hard work pays off as steady O’Toole helps Fianna Fáil win the day in Ballymahon
“I am very pleased, but I got a great reception on the canvass”
Fianna Fáil’s Pat O’Toole was returned as a councillor in the Ballymahon municipal district for the third successive time.
With 714 first preferences, O’Toole finished in third place after the first count.
It was a steady performance from the Forgney man.
“The old adage that hard work pays off is probably true,” he smiled.
“I am very pleased, but I got a great reception on the canvass,” he added.
Fianna Fail gained a seat in Ballymahon MD, with newcomer Sean Mimnagh joining Mick Cahill and O’Toole on the council from South Longford.
The party’s vote management in the district worked well, in contrast to Fine Gael’s.
With representatives in Carrickedmond, Ballymahon and Lanesboro, the party has the district well covered.
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“We are battling for the third seat in Ballymahon (Sean Mimnagh),” O’Toole added, when the Leader spoke to O’Toole on Sunday.
“Transfers appear to be based in the area in Lanesboro,” he stated.
“It could be a long battle in Ballymahon, with the count not finishing up there until Tuesday in the 2019 elections,” he recalled.
“I wouldn’t rule out a recount,” he added.
O’Toole was right on the recount front, with two actually taking place. In the end, the count finished on Monday night.
One of O’Toole’s priorities is that a new affordable housing scheme will be built in Ballymahon. He also wants to work with Irish Water to significantly upgrade the water sewage plant capacity in Ballymahon.