LAOIS ELECTION: Tommy Mulligan the pride of the town
Newcomer independent claims a seat in Portlaoise Municipal District
A Portlaoise teacher running as an independent has broken through the tough competition to win a seat the Laois Local Elections.
Tommy Mulligan has broken through the tightly competitive Portlaoise Municipal District to win a seat, in his first time to run. He took 1,099 first preference votes, with a final vote including transfers of 1643.
Winning has shocked him and no doubt other established councillors in the district.
The Portlaoise man is well known as a primary school teacher in Scoil Bhride NS and as a Portlaoise GAA coach and backroom manager.
He spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live on Monday ahead of being elected that evening.
At the time his votes and transfers had him in fourth position, ahead of three sitting councillors; Thomasina Connell, Marie Tuohy and Barry Walsh.
“I can’t believe it. It’s still pretty nerve wracking. It's an emotional rollercoaster for the last few days. I was relieved waking on Friday morning not to have to wonder where to canvass, then there was the excitement of voting.
“When the tallies came through, that first vote (1,099, placing him fourth out of 20) was completely overwhelming. I was hopeful but I never expected a vote like it. We are in injury time now, nearly there,” Mr Mulligan said at the time.
Asked what he attributes that big vote to, Mr Mulligan puts it down to knocking on doors.
“I made a pledge to get to as many doors as possible. Since the beginning of March I was out day and night. I wanted to engage with people, that might have been key.
Tommy Mulligan gets a supportive visit from Portlaoise sporting legend Pat Critchley at the count centre.
“But I wasn’t targeting a particular group of people,” he adds.
“I did sense an anti-party sentiment. Maybe that was in my favour. I did sense a lot of frustration too, people were looking for a change.
“I’m just very grateful to all who voted and supported me,” he said.
There are fives seats left to fill across Laois .
Follow continued Laois election results on the Laois Live Election page.