Cashel-Tipperary Electoral Area: Looking to the past for clues to the future

This electoral area in 2019 was dominated by Fine Gael and Michael Fitzgerald in particular who topped the poll on a huge count of 3,005 first preference votes.

The council stalwart secured the highest number of first preferences of anyone in Tipperary and brought Mary Hanna Hourigan and Declan Burgess over the line also. 

Youthful Declan Burgess offered some new energy to the party in the Cashel area and polled strongly across the area.
 At the time Burgess acknowledged the part and support that former Councillor Tom Wood’s mentorship had played in his rise. 

John Crosse was also elected from Fine Gael ensuring they dominated the political landscape in the area with a sensational four out of seven seats. 

The tsunami of votes that flew to the other Fine Gael candidates from Michael Fitzgerald’s surplus played a huge part in the total victory. 

Roger Kennedy of Fianna Fáil got 1,468 first count votes and while there were winners there were also losers. Martin Browne surprisingly lost out in the count despite being a hot favourite in the run into the election season.

The Sinn Féin vote in 2019 went to Tony Black who had a strong base of core voters in the Tipperary Town area. 

Hopes ahead of the election were that both would poll strongly but it didn’t transpire and so Martin Browne (who did get elected as a TD at the following General Election) lost out in the Local Elections back in 2019.

In the aftermath of that May election, Martin Browne described politics and elections in general as “a cut-throat game”.
He was bitterly disappointed to lose his seat at the time but he was still gracious enough to help hoist up Tony Black on his shoulders at the count centre in Thurles despite his personal heartache. 

Elsewhere the March4 Tipp group at the time had gained a lot of publicity and support for their appeal to the public to muster energy to change the landscape of Tipperary Town and turn it into an attractive place where people want to live and work. 

Their huge support at marches didn’t transfer to the ballot boxes however and so the traditional parties dominated the rural landscape. 

Non-Party Annemarie Ryan (Shiner) got elected on the ninth count as did Tony Black to huge celebrations.  Lisa McGrath (Non-Party), Jacqui Finnan (Fianna Fáil), Robert O’Donnell (Labour) and Barry Walsh (Non-Party) as well as Martin Browne were eliminated along the way.