On the straight and narrow with Shane P.

West for Mullagh-based Independent Ireland candidate Shane P O’Reilly on a normal given day could be Lisgrey. So 30 miles from Shane’s front door is far beyond his usual geographic comfort zone.

The Celt hits the canvas trail with Shane when he arrives to Butlersbridge with his sister Sharon Kiernan on a wickedly brisk Wednesday morning.

Shane had been in Monaghan the day before, has a Municipal District meeting the morning after, and is scheduled for a get together with fellow Independent Ireland candidates in Athlone on Friday.

“It’s very, very busy,” says Shane quickly, and without dropping pace he pushes a campaign flyer through a letter box. Moves on. Knocks. No answer. Rinse. Repeat.

The next door opens as Shane reaches for the doorbell. An elderly man stands framed by a large religious picture hanging in the hallway.

“Shane P. O’Reilly, election candidate. All I can do is ask you to do your best for me on the day,” says Shane.

Despite the inclement weather, he’s encouraged by the “warm” reception so far.

Shane has a team of about a dozen- predominately family - who’ve put lives on hold to try help him achieve his goal.

“He was born for this,” shares Sharon, out of earshot of “baby of the family” Shane, when asked why people should vote for her brother. Such is her dedication, Sharon is leafleting while nursing a broken hand caused by a slip out canvassing in Virginia the previous week.

“There’s not a minute of the day he wouldn’t give to help someone else,” she adds.

This is Shane’s seventh election since he first entered politics as a local representative in 2004, but his first attempt at getting elected to the Dáil.

“It’s a different animal,” regards Shane, in relation the effort required.

This is also Shane’s first run at appealing to the wider electorate away from his Fianna Fáil roots. Twice elected Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council (2014 and 2019), he quit his former party in 2020 citing “irreconcilable differences”.

“I was never defined by being a member of anybody,” he announces. “I think the name ‘Shane P O’Reilly’ is synonymous with local politics more so than anything else, that’s the main thing.”

Married to Elisha, the dad of five says he’s never seen as many election posters for the “big three”. He can’t compete with that sort of exposure.

“I’ve done what I can afford,” he tells the Celt earnestly.

Despite this admission, and being on the opposite side of the county, people do still recognise him.

“What about the roads Shane? That M3 is a disaster!” shouts over a local builder. “What’s going to happen with that? We need it all the way to Letterkenny.”

Shane rifles back an answer about the current status of the Virginia N3 Bypass.

“We’re working on it,” he assures.

Shane was admittedly wrong with his ‘Independent-wave’ prediction in June’s locals. But he feels the winds of change much more this time round.

In Drummany Fort Shane is challenged about inward migration- “a hot topic” on doorsteps, he later says.

“There are an awful lot of additional costs on people,” Shane agrees with the assertions put by the husband and wife standing at the door, and confides that Ireland is in “major need of a reset”.

He tells the Celt whilst on the move: “Look at how we deal with disability services, or carers. We’re a caring nation but we seem to be losing a wee bit of compassion for those most in need. And, we’re maybe too compassionate in other ways in the amount of handouts we give as well. For a person who gets up everyday, goes to work, pays a lot of tax, for them to turnaround and see some others appear to get things easier, it creates a bit of angst.”

At one of the last houses in Shane calls to he’s tackled on his position on the war between Israel and Palestine. He’s gets berated by the woman over why he and other cllrs didn’t appear to back a recent Sinn Féin motion calling to boycott Israeli goods. Shane replies they did by virtue of not opposing it.

The conversation moves to issues closer to hand- specifically the speed of motorists travelling the N54 nearby. That’s perhaps easier to solve says Shane, than bringing Benjamin Netanyahu to the negotiating table. New speed limits on national secondary and on rural or local roads, he hopes, will make a difference, but only if enforced.

He walks on, a pep in his step. “I love it. I far rather they ask questions than say ‘thanks very much good luck’. I’ll not have all the answers, and I certainly won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but what I will do is say it straight. The voter can decide after that.”