Gaffney: ‘Delvin needed a councillor’
The election of two councillors from Delvin was a “huge occasion” for the village, according to Niall Gaffney.
The Fianna Fáil man, alongside Sinn Féin’s David Jones, ended the two-decade wait Delvin endured for an elected representative last Monday (June 10), thanks, in part, to a huge turnout at the polls from locals.
In one ballot box at Delvin NS there was a 93% turnout from voters, potentially the highest in the country for a single box, which Mr Gaffney benefited the most from, as he received 177 first preference votes.
Among the four boxes at Delvin NS, the 28-year-old barrister received 580 first preferences, proving key to his election.
Mr Gaffney thanked locals for turning up and showing him the support needed to get over the line.
“At the back top of it all, there was a vocal conversation from people around here about Delvin needing a councillor,” he said.
“In the end, it was unique, such a big occasion for Delvin to have two people elected, and I’d have to give a big congratulations to David Jones too.
“Another factor, I think, was we had three Delvin-based candidates running too, so it was a contested area with lots of canvassing.”
Mr Gaffney, a former Ógra Fianna Fáil president, said he’s looking forward to proving his worth in the council chamber.
“I have to live up to it now and earn that vote of confidence that I got,” he said.
“That means drawing investment into the area, whether housing supports, local infrastructure, roads and fighting for local business, supporting and encouraging progression in the whole area.
“I’m so excited and honoured to be in this role for the next five years and I’m going to spend every day working for it.”
Mr Gaffney also said the elections proved to be “a good day” for his party.
“We retained our nine seats locally and did well nationally, so it was a good result for Fianna Fáil,” he said.
“We had seven sitting councillors return their seats here in Westmeath and Alfie and I got over the line as first-time candidates.
“I’d also like to thank John Shaw and Paddy Hill, who were both fantastic with advice and proved important in keeping our seats here in Kinnegad LEA.”