Mullinahone's Kevin O'Meara gives his reaction to seat loss in Tipperary council election

Mullinahone Independent Kevin O’Meara, who lost his council seat in Carrick-on-Suir LEA on Sunday, believes the small number of candidates in the race was a key factor in his failure to secure re-election.

Seven candidates contested the 2024 Carrick LEA election for five seats compared to a more packed field of 11 candidates in 2019 when he polled the fourth highest first preferences in the constituency.

Mr O’Meara pointed out that the 1,032 first preference votes he secured in this election would have been enough to get him elected in other local electoral areas.

“It was disappointing but just not meant to be,” he said philosophically of the loss of his seat.

He said he had received a lot of great support from his family and election team and supporters in the background but just unfortunately the numbers didn’t add up this time.

He agreed Labour’s Michael “Chicken” Brennan campaign, had an impact but pointed out the Killenaule man didn’t take that many votes from him.

He estimated Irish Freedom Party candidate Martin Murphy, who also lives in Mullinahone, took about 40 votes from him. What impacted him more was the number of candidates in the race.

“I think the low number of candidates didn’t suit a rural independent like me. You do rely on transfers. If there are a lot more candidates there is a lot more opportunities to pick up transfers here and there,” he said.

Mr O’Meara is son of the late Independent Cllr Eddie O’Meara, who served as a councillor for nearly 20 years. He was co-opted onto the council to fill his father’s seat following his death in 2018 after his mother Josephine initially stepped into the breach.

Losing his seat has an added poignancy because of his father’s legacy and he feels the loss of his seat as a family loss not just a personal loss.

He said he wished to thank all those who supported his father during his years as a councillor and carried on their support for him when he took over the seat.

When asked if he would run again for the council in five years time, he said he wouldn’t make any decision on his future in politics at this stage. “Five years is a long time. I will cross the bridge when it comes to it.”

The father-of-three, who is an IT manager outside of politics, thanked his family for all their patience over the last five years.

He pointed out that his family last went on a two-week holiday in 2019 but haven’t been since due to his commitments as a councillor.

Mr O’Meara said he was looking forward to a well earned break and spending more time with his family