Elections ‘too early to call’ in Cork, but parties are ‘proud’ of candidates

A polls close around Cork, TDs were proud of their party’s campaigns and largely optimistic on polling day about their candidates in the local elections.

“Election day always brings with it a range of emotions – relief that the weeks and months of campaigning is finally over, but also excitement and cautious optimism for what the next few days might bring,” Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns told The Echo.

“I am so proud of the 12 exceptional candidates who put themselves forward for the Social Democrats in the local elections in Cork city and county, as well as Susan Doyle, our European Election candidate in Ireland South, who ran an outstanding campaign – despite being unfairly excluded from RTÉ’s election debates.” 

She added: 

“Elections present parties with a valuable opportunity to outline their core principles, values and policies – I am glad to say that all our Cork candidates reported positive, respectful engagement with the majority of people they met on the doorsteps.” 

Solidarity-People Before Profit TD Mick Barry said: “For us an election campaign is like a mass dialogue with working class people and it’s been great for our team to have thousands of conversations over the last month.

“Anyone who says they know how this vote is going to turn out is a bluffer in my book but I think Brian McCarthy has high recognition for his work on the discoloured water issue, Edith Busteed for her campaigning work on Palestine and both of them on housing so we’re hopeful of good results tomorrow.” 

Fianna Fáil TD and Minister for Finance Michael McGrath said the party “did quite well overall in Cork in the local elections in 2019” and said they have identified some “potential gains” in Cork this time around.

“We had a good balance of youth, experience and gender in this elections. All of our candidates and their campaign teams given it their all, we couldn’t have asked any more of them. It’s in the hands of the people now,” he said. 

Fine Gael TD Simon Coveney explained: “It’s a strange feeling on election day, you’ve been flat out campaigning and suddenly there is nothing more to do other than calling round to the polling station.

“I think it’s been a good campaign for us, the reception on doors has been reasonably positive – there are a small number of people who are angry about various things, but most of our candidates would say canvassing was enjoyable.

“Our target in the local elections is to hold what we have or to be as close as we can – six months ago, people would’ve said there was no chance that could happen, because when a party been in government for some time they can get a hard time in the locals.

“But when you look at the quality of our candidates and our new candidates, I think we’re in good shape to keep the numbers we have Cork city and county,” Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould said.

“We ran a really positive, solution-focused campaign, and we’ve seen great engagement.

“Unlike before, you have to be strong on the doors and also strong on social media, but we’re really happy from both perspectives.

“Everyone worked together, there’s a lot of organising when running multiple candidates, so our strategy was dividing the constituencies so people weren’t running against each other but working together.

“It’s still too early to call, but we’re watching the turnout which will be key,” he said, wishing all his party’s candidates the best of luck.