Outgoing Cathaoirleach Colm Murray the highest profile casualty in bruising Longford local elections

Politics can be a very cruel game. And Fine Gael councillor Colm Murray was the biggest casualty of the 2024 Local Elections in Longford.

The outgoing Cathaoirleach of the County Council was squeezed out, following an intense battle that centred on the Lanesboro /Newtowncashel end of the district.

At 9pm on Sunday in the Edgeworthstown count centre, weariness was understandably setting in among the count staff and candidates.

Then, the news that a full recount had been granted in the Ballymahon municipal district.

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It followed from the elimination of sitting councillor Gerald Farrell, who was just one vote behind the next placed candidate, Sean Mimnagh.

But that was just one story that was emerging from the Ballymahon municipal district. Overall, there were five candidates within 51 votes of each other following the fourth count. There were just two seats on offer to these five.

When speaking to the Leader, Murray was pragmatic and a little resigned that he was departing the council.

Also read: How you voted in Ballymahon municipal district: Two recounts and two big name casualties in gruelling Battle of Ballymahon

His downbeat mood was justified, as he was to lose out. His vote dropped by less than 100 votes but in the end, it was a crucial dip.

“The odds are against me. Of the five remaining candidates, three of them are from the same area,” he stated.

Murray felt at that point that his only option for survival was to “stay ahead of John Rooney and benefit from his transfers,” but conceded that he was “clutching at straws” with such a scenario.

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Murray was left to ponder on his own campaign. “I have to look at my overall strategy and could I have done more,” he stated.
The run-in to this election was “exceptionally busy” for Murray. He was Cathaoirleach of the council in the past year. His duties included the recent famine commemoration in Edgeworthstown.

Such an event should be a high point for any local representative.

Less than a mile up the road from where the event took place, his fate was decided.

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“The past year was difficult at times, between being Cathaoirleach and having a day job. However, it was the honour of my life being the Cathaoirleach. Many councillors do not get that opportunity,” he commented.

Murray was co-opted to the council in 2013, aged 24, to replace the late Paddy Belton.

He has also served as Vice-Chairperson of Longford GAA County Board.

He was one of three outgoing councillors to lose his seat along with his party colleague Colin Dalton and former party colleague Gerald Farrell. 

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