COUNT eight in the race for directly-elected mayor of Limerick brought the night’s counting to a close with a bombshell two candidates eliminated.
Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan and Independent Frankie Daly have both been eliminated on this count, leaving only five candidates in the running when counting resumes tomorrow (Tuesday) morning.
Speaking to the Limerick Post after her elimination, Cllr O’Donovan, who was re-elected as a councillor in Limerick City West yesterday, said that she was “overwhelmed” with the support she’s received across both elections.
“I am absolutely overwhelmed with the support that has been shown to me, throughout the city and county. Obviously I did not have the resources that the big parties had, it was literally me, my mom, and one other woman – my campaign manager Karen – we were on a shoestring budget,” Cllr O’Donovan said.
“I met so many community groups and amazing people from Rathkeale, to my own areas, Raheen, and all throughout the city and the county. And I think it’s a really real endorsement for the people of Limerick City and County for Social Democrat values.
“I’m really, really honoured that we have received the vote that we have. So I’m just very thankful to the people of the city and the county.”
Speaking on behalf of her party, who doubled their council seats (from one to two) in the local elections, O’Donovan said that “it’s been a really fantastic weekend for us here, I think in Limerick we have a very strong new councillor in Shane Hickey O’Meara, and I just think we are going to be seeing ourselves grow. We’ve had a huge interest in the party over the weekend.”
“I think it’s really being seen that we are doing politics very differently in Limerick that our values of equality in investment in public services in sustainability are really resonating with the people of Limerick. And so I’m very, very hopeful for the Social Democrats future in Limerick,” she concluded.
