Local elections: Micheál Naughton points to hard work as poll top beckons

Micheál Naughton put a voting surge in his favour down to old fashioned hard work.

The Laghey-based Fianna Fáil Councillor is set to be atop the poll in the Donegal area at Sunday's count.
Tally figures show the County Sligo native gained 1,817 first preferences – up 625 from his 2019 total.

Naughton is the President of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and a former Donegal senior ladies team, manager.

His old 'play to our strengths' mantra from the dressing room came into play during this election campaign.

He said: “There is no recipe for hard work. I was reared in a family of 12 and if you didn't work you didn't survive. I have always had to work. Hard work never killed anyone. If you want something in life, you have to work for it.

“I always said in football to play to our own strengths, concentrate on our own game and not worry about the opposition. I take that same approach to politics.”

Naughton filled big shoes in 2017 when co-opted onto Donegal County Council following the death of veteran Fianna Fáil Councillor Sean McEniff.

Naughton, the general manager at the Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny, previously stood in the 2014 election but missed out and in 2019 he had 1,192 first preferences to hold the seat.

Naughton is now on course to top the poll when the Donegal MD count takes place in the St John Bosco Centre on Sunday.

He said: “I am over the moon.It was a huge increase. When I left the house yesterday morning, I was only guaranteed two votes: My own and my wife's.

“None of my family or my wife's family could vote for me. Every one of the 1,817 votes were outside of my own house. This is a huge moment for me personally and for my family and my team.

It is huge to increase my vote by that amount. I knew I had worked hard and I got great feedback at the doors during the canvas.

“You can sometimes work hard and it doesn't come back to you, but the people in the Donegal MD knew that I was a worker for the area and I delivered a lot. I got a vote in every box from Bundoran to Glencolmcille. That was down to the work I have done.”

Naughton paid tribute to the likes of Hugh Cassidy, Eddie Sweeney, Joe Devaney and Anna May Murray who aided his entry into politics and his director of elections, Sinead McGowan.

He said: “Any evening we went out, we had 20 people and this wouldn't happen without my team. My team will take real pride out of this too.

“I want to thank the people of the Donegal MD for putting the trust in me.

“When someone rings me, I never ask what party, colour, religion, nationality they are. If I can do something, I will do it. That is reflected in my vote. It is a huge personal honour.”