Secretary of Clare Fine Gael, Joe Melody is confident the party will return two TDs. The young farmer shared his prediction with The Clare Echo.
“This election race is proving to be a fascinating one. We have all the ingredients for what should be an entertaining contest, if you weren’t involved in it! I would love to see all the three Fine Gael candidates elected but the reality is we elected 2 T.Ds to the last Dail on just under 26% of the vote. Clare is often cited as a bellwether county for the country as a whole and with Fianna Fail making a resurgence since the last election when they garnered 31% of the vote in Clare but failed to elect a second T.D. with Timmy Dooley. I cannot see this happening again. Timmy will be returned but this time Cathal Crowe should poll well enough to be elected to the 33rd Dail. Geographically this race is very interesting as you have a crowded field with Crowe and Dooley who are both situated in East Clare. Add to the mix Michael McNamara who has gained a high profile from his time in Dail Eireann, if there were to be an upset on the cards it could be him.
However, I feel that when the people of Co. Clare go out to vote on Saturday, they will vote for the team that has delivered for them and I think two Fine Gael TDs will be elected. From a personal point of view as a young farmer heading into unchartered waters post Brexit. The only government I would have confidence in is a Fine Gael led government, for that reason I think both Pat Breen and Joe Carey will be returned alongside Timmy Dooley and Cathal Crowe”.
