Support for 'Lord Lowry' shows no signs of slowing down in Tipperary

If there were ever questions raised regarding Michael Lowry’s popularity in Tipperary, watching the footage of him and his team entering the count centre on Saturday evening would quash that in seconds.

Everyone in the count centre knew from very early on that the soon-to-be ten-time TD would be making an appearance during the day’s proceedings.

Lowry claimed that this was the toughest election campaign he had faced, with a loss of around 5,300 votes due to the boundary changes, according to him, so at what point he would be showing up was a question being asked early on.

However, once the early tallies began to come in in the morning, it became evident that it would be a standard affair.

With the call of the first count beckoning, rumblings made their way around the centre that his arrival was imminent. Photographers and cameramen made their way to the entrance to document his arrival into the centre.

His arrival was probably the most anticipated of any of the candidates. Everyone wanted to be at the front to get a glimpse of him walking through the door. It was as if the count centre came to a standstill for it. It was comparable to that of an All-Ireland winning captain arriving after a triumph in Croke Park.

Lowry received the largest welcome to the centre of any candidate. Dozens of people were draped in Lowry caps and stickers, with a banner looming in the background displaying the message “Lord Lowry of Tipperary.”

The entourage proceeded to the front of the count centre to await the result being called.

When it was revealed he had comfortably surpassed the quota, the announcer was outshone by the cheers and roars from Lowry’s supporters bellowing around the hall. Despite this being his tenth victory in a row, you could be excused for thinking it was a first, it meant that much to his team and supporters.

Lowry is a staple of Tipperary politics. After his remarks that he could be at risk of losing his seat due to the boundary changes, it could have marked the end of his almighty reign over the first seat in Tipperary, a reign that stretches all the way back to 1997.

However, after a resounding win in this year’s General Election, it is clear that no one is coming for his crown.