All in it together

Fine Gael's T.P. O'Reilly, in his second run for the Dáil, is hoping marginal gains across the board might get him across the line this time. With the presence of some star power in former Rose of Tralee turned MEP, Maria Walsh, TP hopes will boost his chances at bettering 2020's result when he came painfully close to causing an upset, only to be pipped at the post.

Until then T.P. proved far more transfer friendly than some more experienced rivals despite only being in politics since 2019.

This now stands to be T.P.'s fourth election in just five years.

“You make the best of it,” says T.P. in his usual understated way.

Despite his laid-back demeanour, make no mistake, there's fire in the belly.

Managing the duties of being Cathoirleach with running a General Election campaign requires steadfast determination and dedication. It was a calculated risk and it remains to be seen whether it will pay off. Knowing there was an election on the horizon, holding the chain was a no-brainer in terms of opportunity to boost one's profile.

On the day the Celt catches up, T.P. and his campaign team are in Kingscourt and Cavan's first citizen has already been to Cavan Town to celebrate the council's achievement in getting a bronze award for their Active Travel initiatives. From a table in the Wishing Well pub, T.P.'s back to prepping his election team for their next hunting grounds- canvases in Shercock and Bailieborough after that.

His determined team includes his brother Philip and sister Rosemarie; Eugene Reilly from Kingscourt and Jenny O'Brien from Mountain Lodge, as well as former IFA chair Elizabeth Ormiston, Thomas Fitzsimons from Murmod, and Gerry Reilly from Bailieborough.

At this stage in the campaign, few areas are considered off limits.

“You're all in it together, but with only three weeks at it, there's definitely a bit of 'every person for themselves'.”

Despite Carmel Brady's addition by HQ, T.P. still views himself as the de-facto Cavan choice having been formally selected at convention; while David Maxwell was always a nailed-on certainty as the only Monaghan name on the ticket.

“I feel I'm the number one Fine Gael candidate in this county,” reiterates T.P. from an earlier conversation had with the Celt, while putting his full weight of support behind the others when plumping for second and third preferences.

Asked how this canvas differs from five years ago, T.P. remembers one issue that particularly enlivened the electorate previously. It was when Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan proposed plans to remember the pre-Independence police forces. Now, “it's all housing, roads, disability services, more housing, cost of living and immigration, I can't say it's not been talked about.”

T.P. has lived through two recessions. He remembers as a kid his parents, who owned Lisgrey House, waiting for the pre-Christmas bump from those travelling home from abroad. In 2010, he admits like many others, he too nearly lost everything due to the downturn in the economy.

“We done what we had to do to pay the bills. The main objective was to pay the mortgage every month. But you see more more money in the country now, more people working. There's plenty of opportunity for anyone who wants to work. Cost of living is probably eating into that a good bit. But, in the round, the country is a far better place now than it was. Stability is the backbone to any economy,” he asserts.

A stop off at the newly opened Delicious café and T.P. hits the streets proper.

Despite representing one of the two main parties in government, the reception has been “positive”, says T.P.

“You'll get people who'll have their say, but when you talk to them, in the main, we're all reading from the same page.”

In Magee's of Kingscourt, T.P. is thrown a bit of 'curve ball'. Shop owner Pat Donagh highlights how children's clothing and footwear - defined as the average build of a 10 year old - are subject to a zero rate in VAT. However, an upswing in the need for larger sizes (greater than a 32" chest or 26" waist/ 5½ foot) means businesses like his are bearing the brunt of bigger bills. It's not something T.P. had heard before, but it is certainly a topic he promises to raise in future.

Walking further up Main Street and T.P. is tackled by Sonya McMahon of 'Help Our Homeless'. She talks from the window of the van she regularly drives to assist people living on the streets in Dublin. Closer to home, similar concerns need addressing. “We need a dedicated homeless shelter for Cavan-Monaghan. It's a disgrace,” she tells T.P., who responds by highlighting plans to establish a refugee for women fleeing domestic violence. “It's not the same thing,” he quickly acknowledges. “But it is something that needs to happen as well.”

Keeping it local, T.P. calls into Farm Fresh Kingscourt where a remark about it being a “great town” gets thrown back at him. “It's a great carpark at times,” says Brendan Lee, who is minding the shop for his daughter, pointing beyond the doorway at the back-up traffic outside. He highlights the need for greater investment, including a new off-street car park.

“Hopefully the regeneration of the town and the two banks will help,” responds T.P. “They have the plans. There's a lot of money that's come into the county. There are a lot of big plans, a lot of investment in towns, like in Kingscourt. It's about getting it done now.”