General Election: 'Massive disappointment' for Fine Gael in Donegal constituency

Joe McHugh has described as ‘a massive disappointment’ the loss of Fine Gael’s Dail seat in Donegal.

For the first time, an election count will pass in the county without the election of a Fine Gael deputy - a run going back to 1937 when Daniel McMenamin was elected in Donegal East and Michael Og McFadden in Donegal West.

McHugh, a former Minister for Education, confirmed in 2022 that he was not going to seek re-election this time. A couple of months later, he resigned the party whip when voting against the government on the defective concrete blocks issue.

Although Donegal has yet to confirm a first count, Fine Gael have conceded that neither John McNulty or Nikki Bradley will be elected.

“You can feel the dynamic in the count centre - politics has changed in Donegal,” McHugh said.

“It’s a massive disappointment.

“A big thing against both of them was profile; probably Nikki not being in the Senate long enough yet and not having the time to build and it was probably the same for John who wasn’t a councillor. He was known within the party, but to get that extra vote you need to be known.”

McHugh was first elected to the Dail in 2007 when he topped the pole, eight years after winning a seat on Donegal County Council.

Fine Gael is now at a crossroads in Donegal with their Dail wipeout coming just a few months after they took a big hit at the local elections.

McHugh said: “I came in back in 1999 and two years prior to that we had no seat in Donegal North East. What changed in relation to that was hard work. 

“There is an opportunity here now. We had two excellent candidates running and John and Nikki will take time to reflect. 

“We have sitting councillors who are very well regarded within their own respective communities. It will require someone stepping up to the plate and putting in the effort. 

“There is always someone out there who is willing to take on the challenge. When I think back to ’99 and going into the 2007 General Election, I remember Ivan Yates was giving me 7/1 to win a seat and I topped the poll.

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“It was always going to be difficult to map out a way forward for the party when I took the decision that I did and voted against the government, It did make it difficult for the organisation. I didn’t want to do that, but I felt that it was the right thing to do at the time.”