Tuam electorate sends clear signal to FF

Date Published: 11-Jun-2009

A STRONG and clear message was delivered to Fianna Fail in the Tuam Electoral Area when three candidates were elected in the first count – and exceeded the quota by a large majority in the process.

While the Fianna Fail candidates were left to scrap it out for the minor placings, an independent, a Labour candidate and a Fine Gael candidate were earning celebrity status by the magnitude of their votes.

Independent sitting councillor Sean Canney created something of record when he achieved almost 3,300 first preferences which has now elevated him to General Election status.

Canney doubled his vote in Tuam and even in his own core area, his vote had increased significantly – in the end he had almost 1,000 first preferences to spare.

Cllr. Tom McHugh of Fine Gael polled exceptionally well – increasing his vote by almost 1,300 on the
2004 local elections – and he too exceeded the quota by a large margin.

And…