Fiona Bonfield leads the way for Labour in Tipperary elections

While expected to be a front runner for re-election with old hand John “Rocky” McGrath out of the picture this time around, 28% of the vote come election at the first count was a whopping total for Fiona Bonfield who coasted back in late on Saturday night.

“To be honest I’m delighted,” said Newport woman Bonfield after her re-election was confirmed.

“We did a long campaign. It was ten weeks long, and I’m lucky I have a great team behind me.

“I want to thank everyone that gave me their number one vote because without the people’s support I wouldn’t be where I am tonight. I’m just thrilled.”

Noted as being a very active and accessible councillor in her area, Bonfield attributed her successful campaign and re-election to an astute work ethic from her during her five-year service since 2019, and the work of her team in the background who helped her along the way.

“Look, I do work hard at the job,” Bonfield admitted.

“People said it to me there at the door that they see me and know what I do. I think that makes a difference as well.

“But I’ll be honest with you, it’s the team that keeps me going.

“It was a long campaign, a tough campaign but I have a great team behind me and I really owe it to them.

“I also owe a lot to the supporters at home who were egging me on for the last couple of weeks. It’s just a fantastic day,” she added.

This will be Bonfield’s third term in office as a local councillor and she outlined the work that lies ahead of her, and the commitment she is prepared to give to help her constituents and communities thrive.

“I’m passionate about community.

“I love seeing communities prosper and seeing people loving to live in their communities.

“That is what I love about this job and I’d do anything to see that.

“That is why I’m in this job and I just hope that people recognise that that is why I am in this job and that I have contributed a lot in that regard over the years.”

So, it was another successful campaign for the Newport candidate but she was part of a much bigger picture as the Labour Party tripled their seats in Tipperary over the course of the weekend, with Michael “Chicken” Brennan and Louise Morgan Walsh all being elected in their constituencies which Bonfield believes is a huge success given the vitriol she received at times going door-to-door during her campaign in recent months.

“I’ll be honest with you, I got asked about where Labour were at in the polls as a party, and my response was ‘just give us time’, if we can win some seats locally, we can grow the party here in Tipperary so things are looking brighter,” she finished.