General Election: Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher says votes vindicated political return

Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher says his decision to contest the General Election has been vindicated.

The veteran Burtonport politician lost his seat in Dáil Éireann in February 2020, is set for a dramatic Dail return.

The Fianna Fáil candidate grabbed 10,262 first preferences - or 13.2 per cent of the overall vote. Gallagher lost his seat by 358 votes, but is ready to return to the corridors of Leinster House.

“I have been working for the people all my life,” Gallagher told Donegal Live. 

“I am a people person. It was a great honour for me still when people in the constituency would come to me. They had confidence in me and they asked me to assist in their areas. It was a natural progression during that period.

“I got a tremendous vote in my home area. Every vote I got was as important to me. People wanted their TD back in my area and I was happy to be in the position again.”

Gallagher’s name was confirmed at a Fianna Fail selection convention, which was attended by hundreds.

He said:  “I contacted a lot of the delegates and right across the county there was a feeling that I was the best person to try and win the seat.”

Gallagher’s election is expected to be confirmed some time on Sunday at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny, the count centre for the Donegal constituency.

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His party colleague and Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, is a little less certain, although party sources appear confident of returning two TDs from Donegal.

Gallagher said: “I am hoping that Charlie takes a second seat or it’s not a victory.”