Disappointment, but no regrets for Higgins
Lorraine Higgins has fought the good fight for two General Elections in a row . . . and she has come close to the dream of getting a Dáil seat.
Five years ago, she was just 132 votes behind Colm Keaveney when he took the Labour seat for Galway East, and this time around, she really was cycling into the gale . . . but still pedalled really hard.
“I knew the way the trends were going nationally that it was always going to be an uphill battle, but I worked really hard for the past five years in the constituency.
“I would have to say that during the canvass, I got a good reception on the doorsteps — I really did give it my very best shot, as did the fantastic team I had with me,” said Lorraine Higgins.
On a Saturday evening in New Inn, as she put a brave face on her elimination, she conceded that this would probably her last General Election.
“I have a few options to look at over the coming days and weeks and on an evening like this it’s best to have a think about things. But I don’t think that I’ll be contesting another General Election,” she said.
Before the Angelus bell had sounded on Saturday evening, Lorraine Higgins had 5,470 votes in her bundle before Returning Officer, Derry Buckley ‘called time’ on her challenge.
She had bucked the national trend of Labour getting a pasting in the polls but like a team that has fought bravely in a county final without winning, the disappointment of losing was written all over her face.
“I’m disappointed — yes — but do l have any regrets — no. I gave this my very best shot — I got a lot of support but just not enough,” said Lorraine Higgins.