Election Aftermath: Portarlington's Elaine Mullally is ready for Christmas and time with family

Independent Laois candidate for the General Election, Elaine Mullally, has expressed her delight at what she hails a ‘strong campaign’.

The candidate was eliminated on the seventh count, receiving over 2,959 votes including transfers.

Ms Mullally was in the process of removing her campaign posters while she spoke to the Leinster Express/Laois Live.

“There is no point in saying I’m not disappointed, I am delighted with the numbers but would have preferred a stronger result,” Ms Mullally explained.

“Overall I am very happy, my team and we couldn’t have brought our campaign any stronger. We saw a lot of positivity on the doors while canvassing, and I had the most amazing and energetic team,” she praised.

Pictured: Elaine Mullally with her campaign posters

"This is a very positive result. I have no regrets, at this point in time I am not sure what we could have done differently. It’s a big thing to run against a party, and I think that two thousand votes is very impressive for a first time candidate,” she said.

“I committed to my campaign policies very early on in this, and I set up a task force to help families with children who have special needs. I am organising a meeting very soon, and I intend on inviting the elected Laois TDs to that meeting. I am still 100% dedicated to this taskforce,” Ms Mullally revealed.

“The Laois TDs have promised people on the ground that they will help source support for families, and places for special needs children in schools, which are extremely important issues. I am hoping that our elected TDs will step up to the plate,” she said.

The candidate had sought the independent vote from Laois voters, and found that the amount of independent candidates diluted votes.

“People were looking for an alternative, but the amount of other independent candidates really diluted that whole vote,” Ms Mullally said.

Pictured: Independent candidate Elaine Mullally signing her nomination papers

“Brian Stanley had a very strong base on the ground, and has done a lot of work to have earned this vote. That vote is a fair vote, a lot of people have told me on the doors that he has worked hard to deliver for them, it is well earned,” Ms Mullally said.

For the time being, the Portarlington woman has said that she intends to enjoy the build up to Christmas with her family.

“I have been so lucky to receive the help from my daughters in my campaign, they have exams not to focus on so I am going to support them through this in turn, and give them the space they need,” Ms Mullally said.

Ms Mullally’s two daughters have been balancing their studies with Ms Mullally’s campaign over the past few weeks.

“It really was a brilliant campaign, it was my first time to experience such a thing, and it was the same for the girls as well,” she said.

“The girls have become so interested in politics now too, they can see the importance and impact it has in their everyday lives, it has given them passion for the future. Maybe in five years time, it will be a different Mullally on the ballot paper,” Ms Mullally said.

When asked if she would ever consider running again, Ms Mullally said that we should never rule anything out.

"Political campaigns are emotionally draining and exhausting, but I would never rule anything out,” she said.

If the political scene in Laois turns around, which I hope it does, and I see families receiving help for their children, if the working people get their children in homes so that they don’t have to emigrate, I wouldn’t need to. I really hope that this does turn around,” Ms Mullally finished.