Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald accepted that the Galway West by-election result was not favorable for her party. Her candidate Mark Lohan trailed in fifth place as the count continued. McDonald said the campaign was strong and described Lohan as articulate and accomplished, emphasizing that politics can be like sport where sometimes it is not your day. She said she leads the party on winning streaks and on days when they do not lift the cup. At the count centre, nerves frayed amid disagreements involving Independent Ireland figures and security staff, including an attempt to enter without a ticket.
"“It wasn't our day,” she said. “By-elections are peculiar. They are peculiar to the constituencies in which they are fought. “We fought a strong campaign, and Mark is an outstanding person - articulate and accomplished. He has been an activist and an advocate all his life. “In politics, as in sport, sometimes it is not your day.”"
"McDonald confidently batted away questions on her leadership. “I am the leader of Sinn Féin. I lead us on days when an bua againn - when we're on a winning streak. And I lead us on the days when we're not lifting the cup,” she said."
"It was a bad day for Sinn Féin, and with Lohan by her side, McDonald acknowledged the fact. As the press pack moved away he called over: “Has she retired yet?” The veteran Fine Gaeler asked: “Did I hear her correctly when she said 'it wasn't our day'? What about tiocfaidh ár lá?”"
"Nerves were fraying around the count centre. Independent Ireland's Noel Thomas got into a disagreement with a security guard who was playing it strictly by the book. Independent Ireland TD Richard O'Donoghue had tried to enter the count without a ticket, but there was no bargaining to be done."
Read at Irish Independent
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