O’Shea taken aback by stunning performance
IT BECAME apparent from very early last Saturday that Independent councillor John Paul O'Shea was going to top the poll in Kanturk/Mallow by some considerable distance.
But even he was taken aback at the margin of his victory, polling a staggering 4,374 first preference votes - the third highest individual vote of all the 949 councillors elected across the country.
“I was expecting a good vote, but I have to admit I was totally surprised at result,” he beamed after being held aloft by his army of ecstatic supporters.
He pinpointed two key reasons why he polled 1,330 votes about the quota, the first that his vote was a reflection of the anti-party sentiment expressed by the electorate.
“Secondly, the personal vote was a reflection of the hard work I have done in the Mallow area over the past five years and the honest approach I have taken to politics over that time,” said Cllr O'Shea.
“It also pays to meet people face to face while canvassing. I have travelled many roads across North Cork since February getting to know people and winning their trust,” he added.
It was almost inevitable that after such a resounding victory people immediately began talking of Cllr O'Shea as a potential Dail Eireann candidate at the next general election.
Cllr O'Shea was coy when asked about the prospect.
“Today is about celebrating the moment.
“People are saying this is a Dail size vote and I will reflect upon that over the coming days and weeks,” he said.
“But today is about celebrating the moment with family, friends and supporters. There is going to one hell of a party at Corkery's in Dromahane tonight,” he grinned.