This article is from page 14 of the 2006-05-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
TONY Mulcahy’s selection as the second candidate on the Clare ticket for Fine Gael sparked a major controversy on Sunday evening, even before the official confirmation was announced.
As chairman of the Convention Deputy Jim O’Keeffe announced that Mulcahy would join Deputy Pat Breen on the ticket, some disgruntled voters at the back of the room booed loudly.
However, Mulcahy’s loyal supporters were having none of it and the Shannon Mayor was held shoulder high. Moments later Mulcahy, a native of Newcastlewest, spoke of his relief.
“I am relieved. It was a tough campaign. I knew it was going to be a hard battle,” said Mulcahy, a chef who works in the catering business in Shannon.
The huge increase in the number of people in the Shannon area declaring themselves as Fine Gael supporters benefited Mulcahy, who lives in the town and is involved in many sporting and social groups there.
“At the end of the day, I don’t apologise for anything I have done. Anyone is entitled to vote. If the people of Shannon come out and support me, I am not going to turn them away,” he pointed out.
Mulcahy dispelled any suggestions that the decision by Cllr John Crowe to withdraw at the last minute was part of a plan. Crowe first introduced Mulcahy to politics and encouraged him to enter politics 12 years ago.
The two formed a close alliance in the build-up to the Convention.
“I didn’t expect John not to contest. There was no preconceived plan. John is a great servant and campaigner and I regret him doing that. I am absolutely devastated for him,” Mulcahy said.
With the margin so tight in the end, Mulcahy believes his campaign team’s work swung the verdict in his favour.
“It is down to hard work. I had a team of 50 to 60, who have worked hard, while people came from all over the country to vote here today,” he said.
During his speech to members earlier in the evening, Mulcahy said, “Today is the proudest day of my life.”
Mulcahy was first elected to Shannon Town Council in 1994. Five years later he held on to that seat, and also won a seat on Clare County Council.
In 2004 he received 1,195 votes and retained the county council seat. He received almost two-and-a-half times the quota (820 votes) in the town council elections and retained his seat.