Smith reigns supreme despite online abuse
Voters in Roscrea-Templemore delivered resounding support for local Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Smith in the Local Election, in spite of the fact that he has been the victim of a bitter social media campaign due to his stance in welcoming immigrants to Roscrea.
Cllr Smith told this newspaper he was very proud to have secured the highest first preference percentage vote in the entire county of Tipperary - 29% - for the third successive local elections of Tipperary County Council.
He said this massive backing by voters in his area has been registered despite “an avalanche” of posts on social media attacking him for his pro-immigration stance.
Among the posts is an emoji depicting him as a rat. In another instance his image with his hands raised in a sign of an election victory has been superimposed in front of groups of coloured men wearing khaki uniforms.
He was branded “a traitor” after he called on locals not to block refugees from being accommodated in the Racket House Hotel in Roscrea.
But speaking to this newspaper following his latest poll-topping showing in the count centre in Thurles on Saturday, Cllr Smith said “the silent majority” had delivered a resoundingly positive reaction to his work as a councillor in the Roscrea-Templemore Electoral Area.
“I am delighted with the response I received on the doorstep,” said Cllr Smith.
“The election was a huge challenge for me persoanlly because I made a very principled stand in relation to migration and what happened in Roscrea.
“I was very much a target in this election, as was evidenced by a very malicious campaign against me on social media.”
Cllr Smith said he was delighted that “the silent majority stood up beside me for decency and respect”.
ELECTORAL SUCCESS
Cllr Smith first won a seat on North Tipperary County Council in the area 20 years ago and has been re-elected in every local election he has contested since then, topping the poll in 2009, 2014, 2019 and again in this latest election.
He told this newspaper: “This is my fifth time to face the electorate, and I have received tremendous support throughout the years.
“But this latest result has been the highlight and the most stunning victory of them all.”
He said to witness the support of so many people through the ballot box was extremely encouraging after all the online abuse he has been subjected to.
abuse
Commenting on the growing trend of online abuse of politicians, he added: “When you are trying to attract people into politics and what you see is also happening to other candidates across the country, I think it has to stop to be honest.
“Because as a society we have to work togethter, but lessons need to be learned by those pushing propaganda.
“To me, having a solid family behind me and a huge pillar beside me, my dad [former TD and Cabinet minister, Michael Smith, snr]. That's what's important to me. You have to work at this job and, to me, it's about getting the job done and that gives me great satisfication.
“I have increased my vote percentage-wise in every single election, and securing just under 30% of the poll in this four-seater this time is very humbling. For me, it's about the responsibility people enthrust in you, and I just want to repay those who placed me in their trust right across the district.”
On his pro-immigration stance, Cllr Smith said: “I knew there was going to be a certain backlash, but I didn't believe it was going to be so vicious. The intimidatory langauge... it's sad. But today is a highlight for me and my family - that we have risen above all that with the support of the silent majority.”
Meanwhile, Fine Gael candidate Willie Kennedy is not a new face to members of his party, but he will be new to Tipperary County Council after his election for the first time in Roscrea-Templemore. Councillor Kennedy held the role as constituency chairman of Fine Gael for many years and is a nephew of Ned Kennedy of Templetuohy who used to serve on North Tipperry County Council.
A dedicated member of the party for decades, party supporters and others delivered the votes he needed to secure the last of the four seats up for grabs on the final count.
Cllr Kennedy did very well to hold the Fine Gael seat locally following the retirement of outgoing party councillor and former TD Noel Coonan.
The two outgoing Lowry Team councillors, Shane Lee and Eddie Moran, retained their seats, Cllr Lee securing election on the first count with a huge first preference vote of 2,231. Cllr Moran got in on the third count after receiving a load of transfer votes from his Lowry Team colleague.
THE COUNT
ROSCREA-TEMPLEMORE
Electorate: 15,059
Spoiled Votes: 101
Valid Poll: 8,337
Seats: 4
Quota: 1,668
Turnout: 56%
COUNT 1
Kennedy William (FG): 1,143
Lee Shane (Ind): 2,231, elected
Lewis Jordan (Lab): 125
Maloney Aisling (GP): 117
Moran Eddie (Ind): 1,423
Ó Conchúir Breandán (SF): 313
Ryan, Deirdre Maria (FF): 525
Smith Michael (FF): 2,460, elected
COUNT 2
Distribution of Michael Smith’s surplus votes
Kennedy William: (176) 1,319
Lewis Jordan: (49) 174
Maloney Aisling: (61) 178
Moran Eddie: (176) 1,599
Ó Conchúir Breandán: (45) 385
Ryan, Deirdre Maria: (285) 810
COUNT 3
Distribution of Shane Lee’s surplus votes
Kennedy William: (79) 1,398
Lewis Jordan: (51) 225
Maloney Aisling: (49) 227
Moran Eddie: (228) 1,887, elected
Ó Conchúir Breandán: (47) 405
Ryan, Deirdre Maria: (49) 859
COUNT 4
Distribution of Eddie Moran’s surplus
Kennedy William: (40) 1,438
Lewis Jordan: (20) 245, eliminated
Maloney Aisling: (30) 257
Ó Conchúir Breandán: (37) 442
Ryan, Deirdre Maria: (27) 886
COUNT 5
Distribution of Jordan Lewis’ votes
Kennedy William: (45) 1,483
Maloney Aisling: (40) 297, eliminated
ÓConchúie Breandán: (25) 467, eliminated
Ryan, Deirdre Maria: (38) 924
COUNT 6
Kennedy William (133) 1,616, elected
Ryan, Deirdre Maria (182) 1,106