So whats the story of the election in Roscommon?

The story of the Co Council elections in Roscommon has to be the return of Fianna Fáil, the wipe out of Fine Gael who now only have councillors on the borders. Loughglynn, Edmonstown and down in Drum. Roscommon known as “Constans Hibernia Cor” the Constant Heart of Ireland has no Fine Gael representative at its heart!!

The HAC are gone in Roscommon town or is it just that Paula Mc Namara was past her sell by date? I believe it was very much a case of thank you Paula we want Kathleen Shanagher.

You see the hospital has come of age, its mainstream; it belongs to all parties but especially Denis Naughten and his two councillors who sacrificed their careers for it! I remember Micheal Finneran former Minister of State stating at a time that the Hospital was not a HAC issue it’s an issue for everybody. It is now!

In Elphin Valerie Byrne got a vote because of the hospital and the work she’s done. Elphin wanted its Councillor and they got behind her. I really think it was community there in Elphin and by God Elphin backed her. She got the children a playground and the parents paid her back!  So did everyone else!

Nigel Dineen managed the under twenty one’s to two All Ireland Finals in three years. He was elected today. The GAA helped him but his community approach reinforced the desire people had to vote for him. Other Independents lost out. John Murphy lost out but I believe that’s because he was not well known. People did not even know he was a Ming man! Anyway he’s gone. Tom Crosby is gone but the other Murphy has survived!!  Euge that is!

Murphy the man Fianna Fáil did not want has shocked the county or did he? Star of radio and now television everyone knows Eugene and he’s a nice fella! We all agree!

Everyone is talking about Maura Hopkins however I don’t believe it’s that great a performance!  Fine Gael had approx 24% of the vote in Boyle area! They converted that to one seat!  Fianna Fáil had 35% of the vote and translated that to 3 seats! 

Don’t get me wrong it’s a great achievement to be elected! However the old Ballaghaderreen area was a Fine Gael stronghold and has not felt the ire of the hospital probably because of proximity to Sligo and Castlebar hospitals. However Frain as Station Officer (Commander in Ballaghaderreen) with The Fire Brigade saw it differently. 999 people realise the need for 999 services! Hence he abandoned Fine Gael. "Principles are great if you can afford them!!"

Former Mayors Sean Beirne, Tom Crosby and Micheal Mc Greal all lost their seats. As an aside yesterday was a bad day for Mayors. Cork and Dublin both had Labour party Lord Mayors and both lost their seats so did the Mayor of Cork County Council. And the Cork Mayor was in a Car crash Saturday night/Sunday morning! Hospitalised for a few hours but all ok!

Talk yesterday in a pub in Castlerea was about expenses and the fact that they had been published and all that people got! Did that have an effect??  One man told me “Mc Greal got nothing from me as he got too much money from the council!!”

The interaction on Twitter and Facebook was fantastic with great discussion happening! Lots of great discussions about various things be it Mc Greal over Creaton or Larry over Orla even Eugene and Crosby.

Anyway vote management was the winner here.  Fianna Fáil got full value for their vote in Boyle 35% and they took half the seats 

This was my first time to blog and I believe it worked. I had over 3,400 page views today!  I'm off to bed but please interact. Comment below. Tweet me @lthugh  

I look forward to a detailed analysis in the local papers next week.