‘There wasn’t an opening’ – Shane Lynam bows out of Moate race

Irish Freedom Party candidate Shane Lynam has said there “wasn’t an opening” for him in the Moate LEA, after he was eliminated on the second count.

His 277 votes will now be divided among the remaining candidates to see who will join Cllr Tom Farrell in taking one of the area’s four seats.

Mr Lynam said he faced an uphill battle in Moate against some established candidates.

“It’s very hard for someone new to politics to get elected in a constituency like this, there just wasn’t an opening for me,” he said.

“I was the youngest candidate running here, and I learned plenty from the campaign that will stay with me, and I know where to start next time.”

Mr Lynam, a member of the Westmeath Nationalist Alliance, said a focus of his campaign was “fair migration”.

“A lot of people at the doors would have agreed with me; there’s an appetite for a change in policy on migration,” he said.

“I think when you’re talking about a local election, running on a national issue isn’t going to get you that many votes.

“Someone could say to me at a door, ‘Ok, we’re not happy with the illegal immigration policy,’ but it’s not really a local issue.

“They’d rather vote for so and so, who will help them fix the footpaths, or the guy who has helped them mow their grass.”

Mr Lynam adds that he’ll see everyone again in five years’ time.