Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher: Attacks on Catherine Connolly boosted her campaign

Veteran Fianna Fáil TD Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher says that criticism of Independent candidate Catherine Connolly by the main parties worked in favour of the Galway west TD.

The west Donegal politician, a former Leas-Cheann Comhairle, believes that Connolly has received a “resounding endorsement” to be the next President of Ireland from the people of Donegal.

With half of the boxes tallied in the Donegal constituency, Connolly is on 66pc with Heather Humphreys on 18pc and Jim Gavin 4pc. It is estimated that the numbers in favour of Connolly from Donegal will go beyond 75pc when the final sums are totted. 

“It was very obvious at half past nine this morning that it was all over bar the counting,” Deputy Gallagher said. 

“I knew that Catherine Connolly was doing extremely well, but didn't realise that she would get 75 to 80% of the votes in Donegal.

“It's a resounding endorsement. Of course we all have, in effect, played a part in that. Many of the Fianna Fáil people I know voted for Catherine Connolly as their number two.

“I think she resonated with people. I’ve said it all along, the more Catherine Connolly was attacked and criticised by the main parties, that it was beneficial to her. 

“Even in relation to defending the banks, I mean, she was a barrister. That was her job and I think that went on and on and on. People took the view that if she was a barrister, then she had an obligation to defend. The Bar Council came out and so also did Jim O'Callaghan on that point. He said it was normal, you have to defend your clients. 

“Above all, what I believe was beneficial to her as well is the fact that she speaks the Irish language.”

Former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin is on the ballot paper as a Fianna Fáil candidate despite having announced his withdrawal from the race following revelations that he had failed to reimburse a former tenant €3,300 in overpaid rent dating back more than a decade.  As the nomination deadline had passed, Gavin’s name remained on the ballot.

“I am disappointed that we had no candidate,” Gallagher said. “I feel sorry for Jim Gavin now. Our hearts go out to him and his family; a name who was such a high profile in Dublin in particular and in other GAA circles around the country. I think it's unfortunate what happened to him.

“I think back to 1966 when I was only a young fella at that time and De Valera was quite elderly and he won that election.

Read next: Catherine Connolly remains well in command in Donegal constituency

“I always took the view that this election should have been much more open, that we should have had a long lead-in. The process was unveiled at the end of August and the election was almost upon us. I do believe that there would have been more interest. It's been said that nobody showed their hand, but why would anybody show their hand until the process was unveiled - and then it was much too late. I know many who might have considered it, but it was too late.”