Triumphant Healy praises campaign team after sealing the third seat in Tipperary South

Seamus Healy has made a truly spectacular return to Dáil Eireann.

In the political comeback of all comebacks, Healy took the third seat in the Tipperary South constituency after an almighty battle.

Healy was deemed elected after the sixth count was announced shortly after 5.30.  

He had already overtaken sitting TD Martin Browne in an epic roller coaster of a battle of transfers over a number of counts before cruising to victory in passing out Imelda Goldsboro.

 Fianna Fáil’s Imelda Goldsboro's 955 lead was not enough to win her the final seat as Healy powered home taking 3,285 transfers from Browne compared to just 577 for Imelda Goldsboro.

It was an astonishing triumph for Seamus Healy who earlier in the day had given up hope and he had even confessed to  writing his own political obituary.

Transfers from Michael Chicken Brennan, John O’Heney, and crucially Mattie Mcgrath started to go his way to allow him to finish ahead of Browne.

Browne’s transfers saw Healy cruise to victory. Four years ago 2,000 transfers from Healy to Browne saw the Sinn Féin man over the line. On this occasion, the favour was reciprocated.

This was Healy’s fifth General Election victory and the sweetest.

“While the first win was exceptional, this was a remarkable day. We had given up but then the transfers started to go our way. Transfers from Brennan and O’Heney were crucial to bringing the McGrath surplus back into play and that was crucial for me,” said Seamus Healy.

Healy won a by election in 2000 to be elected to the Dáil for the first time and won General Elections in  2002, 2011 and 2006.

He lost his seat in 2007 by 59 votes and lost out again in 2020. He received a standing ovation in the count centre that day with those present not expecting Healy to come back.

74-year-old Healy, however, never contemplated stepping away from politics. He started out in politics when he was just 14 years old when he canvassed with Sean Treacy, and he firmly believed he was in with a great shout for the third seat on this occasion.

“I would not have stood unless I believed I had a fighting chance to win it. I have a magnificent team and I want to thank them for all they have done for decades now,” said Seamus Healy.

He said the closure of Kickham Barracks cost  €10million to the Clonmel economy and that event, he said, started the decline of the town. 

Healy said that Clonmel, with three TDs now based in the town, lost out in recent years because of the abolition of  Clonmel Corporation and South Tipperary County Council.

“Those decisions were wrong and the town lost out as a result,” said Seamus Healy.

At the outset of the campaign Healy said he had ‘unfinished business’ .He has now been given a chance by the voters of Tipperary South to pursue a reversal of decisions taken to close St Brigid’s Hospital in Carrick and St Michael’s acute psychiatric unit in Clonmel.