'A long road to go yet'

Sinn Féin Damien Brady looks on course to claim a seat in Cavan-Belturbet

“There's a long road to go yet,” says Sinn Féin's Damien Brady, who currently sits, if final tallies are to be taken as sacred, third in line to claim a seat in Cavan-Belturbet behind poll-topper Áine Smith and Independent Brendan Fay in second.

Brady (9.9%) looks set to reclaim the seat he lost in 2019, appearing to pick up big numbers of first preferences in areas in failed to gain traction five years ago.

Last time out the issue of backing the merger of two local secondary schools and its replacement with one in Ballyconnell proved fatal in the likes of the areas destined to be affected- Belturbet and Bawnboy.

On Friday however, both areas backed the candidate, getting 30's and 40's in the likes of Currin, Killinagh and Corlough, and better than before in Cavan Town.

Yet he's determined to remain level headed, and strongly believes there could yet be a “few twists and turns” before all votes are counted.

“Its very, very tight there at the end. We know that Áine and Brendan are over the line, and so it all depends on where they're transfers go, and who benefits from their surplus. I'm probably in the strongest position yes [of the rest of the pack], but as you know there is a long road to go. Áine is a Fianna Fail candidate and there is a Fianna Fáil candidate sitting very close behind me [in Feeley] so it depends how that'll go.”

Damien is admitted disappointed to have lost his seat on the council in 2019. He took a week off, recgrouped, and continued to work as a local representative in all but title.

“It was tough but I the people kept coming to my door, from Belturbet, Killeshandra, Milltown. It was as if I hadn't lost my seat. I kept my head down, ploughed on, and that's where I am today because people didn't accept I'd lost my seat.”