Byrne comes out on top in Boyle LEA

Outgoing Cllr Valerie Byrne is delighted to have topped the polls, according to the latest tally figures, garnering 1574 votes.

Although official figures have yet to be released the Independent councillor  said to achieve this level of vote "is wonderful especially after all the work. It is all about getting elected and this unbelievable. It is a great acknowledgement by the people of the local area."

Conceding that her support is slightly down on the previous elections where she had 1627 votes she pointed out that this time out there were 16 candidates running in the Boyle MD hoping to secure one of six seats  and feels that she has maintained her overall percentages.

The Elphin woman has been a councillor for the last 22 years  and believes that her name is out there "hopefully for good reasons."

She has never erected posters and  stated she has not used social media in her campaign but instead has been canvassing hard. She went on  to acknowledge her canvassers and the trojan work they have done in what she described as a huge area adding it would be impossible for her to call to every house personally. 

She said that  topping the poll was a vote of confidence in her and sated "I never make promises but I do my best," for people.

Her last time out in 2019 was very bitter sweet as her mother had passed away the night before the vote and  Byrne did not attend the count.

This time around she said she was able to experience the excitement of the tally, "walking up and down to see what vote I got in each box." 

Looking ahead to the make up of the new MD she said  that the loss of the three retiring concillors, John Cummins, Michael Mulligan and Joe Murphy was huge  and that it will take time "to build that again." However she believes the new councillors will have "a different voice and will  bring new ideas" to the table.

Whether that will include out-going Fine Gael Cllr Liam Callaghan, who looks to be in a fight for the final seat in the area, remains to be seen.