FG's Brady in with a chance of carrying on legacy
Mother, father and grandfather served on councils before her.
Fine Gael's Niamh Brady is hoping to become the third generation elected onto Cavan County Council.
The mum of two can't remember a time when politics wasn't in her life. Her mother Madeleine Argue, who retired from politics after 25 years at the end of the last council term, and who Brady hopes to replace in the chamber.
Both women carried on a legacy started by the late Andy O'Brien, a leading Fine Gael organiser and member of Cavan County Council and Cavan Urban District Council for over 40 years. He also served as a Senator (1969-1987) and as a chair of Cavan VEC.
Her dad Terry Argue was a Cavan Town counicllor also.
But despite her familiarity with the election process Brady still woke up with a tight knot in her stomach on Saturday morning.
“I don't know what it was. It was different this time,” says the first time candidate who stands on 1,017 votes and is in the running with five others for the final four seats available. “I'm just very nervous. I'm never usually like this. I've been at this for years, watching mam, but its certainly different when its for yourself. Completely different.”
It didn't matter how aware she is of the process and how counting works, Brady could barely take a call in the morning as the early tallies came in. It wasn't until the Cavan Town boxes were opened in the afternoon that the tension began to ease.
“It doesn't matter, if you think you're doing bad it gets into your psyche. You get so worried. Then all of a sudden it changes.
“But I have to say I'm very happy with my vote as a first time candidate, I'm very pleased with the support I got, and please God now the transfers will come my way and carry me over the line.”
In particular Brady is keeping a close eye on how Labour Liam van der Spek's 338 votes are divided. In 2019 van der Spek's much greater 761 votes were crucial to seeing mum Madeleine elected for her fifth term in the chamber. “Hopefully he'll do the same for me now.”