Fine Gael’s newest candidate is hoping to make her mark on 2024 election

It’s been a busy 2024 for Tipperary Councillor Dr. Phyll Bugler who is in the running as a Fine Gael candidate in the Tipperary North constituency.

Party members selected Cllr Bugler back in September at a convention held in the Templemore Arms, a gathering that was chaired byFine Gael stalwart Simon Coveney.

After giving great service to the Newport Local Electoral Area since 2004, the Ballina-based councillor has been cherry picked to lead a charge for Fine Gael in the upcoming General Election in Tipperary North, with plenty of flux in the build up to the vote throwing a few of the seats up for contention.

It’s been a case of “close but no cigar” over the years for Fine Gael in terms of gaining seats in the Tipperary electorate.
A record number of seven women candidates are standing in the election in the North and South. Just four women have ever represented Tipperary in the Dáil.

Among those was Carrie Acheson - who represented Tipperary South for Fianna Fáil from 1981 to 1982, and Theresa Ahearn of Fine Gael held the same seat from 1989 until her untimely passing in 2000. In the previous two General Elections - with Tipperary as a whole county constituency - Fine Gael won no seats, but came mighty close on both occasions with Garret Ahearn (2020), and Tom Hayes (2016) just missing out on the fifth seats. Bugler has huge pedigree in local politics though.

She has a PhD in Organic Chemistry, has studied at Heidelberg University, the University of Limerick, and UCC, having previously attended Our Lady's Secondary School, Templemore.

She lives in Ballina, is originally from the Clonmore and Templemore area, and serves the Nenagh Municipal District but has close family connections to Roscrea and is a cousin of retired Roscrea Councillor, Denis Ryan.

“Having served as a councillor for over 20 years and Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council, I have demonstrated that I possess the experience and capabilities to be an effective representative,” said Cllr Bugler after her selection.

“I want to continue to work on behalf of the people of Tipperary North as part of the Taoiseach’s team, to deliver for the people working and living here, farming and raising families and I am confident in my ability to do just that.”

Cllr Bugler and her party have committed to reducing the cost of healthcare and enhancing disability services in Tipperary and speaking at the recent candidates’ debate in Roscrea on November 18, Bugler also said bringing industry and jobs to Roscrea would be her priority should she be elected, promising to better highlight the 26-acre fully serviced Benamore Business Park with the IDA and Shannon Development.

Elsewhere, Bugler has highlighted the plight facing farmers in the current economic climate and with a farming background, she believes she knows what is required to help.

“All-in-all, a lot is going on in this area. These are the projects that I will be looking after,” added Cllr Bugler, who comes from a farming background.

“What I’m hearing from the farmers is the high level of documentation, so we need to reduce that substantially for the grants. And it’s really important to have the payments delivered on time,” she said back in September.

As is always the case with Fine Gael candidates in the same constituency as Michael Lowry, a lot of the votes can be diverted the way of the outgoing TD, which will be a huge challenge to overcome for Bugler in her first run at claiming a seat in the Dáil.

However, she may well have her work cut out for her in this regard, but there is no denying her drive to do so considering the ground she has covered on the campaign trail over the past few months.
Only time will tell if she can turn the expected outcome on its head come Monday morning.