Two weddings and an election: Busy weekend for re-elected Limerick TD

DEPUTY Richard O’Donoghue waltzed away with 10,540 first preferences on Saturday evening, and then danced the night away at a wedding.

The General Election wasn’t the only thing on his mind over the weekend, as he had been invited to two weddings, those of Stephen and Claire O’Kelly, and Adrian Farragher and Fiona Power.

He attended the service of Adrian and Fiona’s wedding in Granagh Church on Saturday morning, and promised to “call in for a pint later on our way home”, having given the bride his word that he would be there for the last dance.

When asked if getting re-elected was better than the weddings, he wittily responded: “the wedding is not over, we're just heading there now!”

He told Limerick Live on Monday that the band was still playing when he arrived.

Mr O'Donoghue said he ended up in a sing-song before leaving at 4am for a well-deserved sleep.

He was re-elected to the Dáil in the ninth count in Limerick County with a total vote of 11,468.

He said it was “unbelievable” to take the second seat in the three-seat constituency.

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“This time five years ago, we were here fighting out for a seat, for the last seat, and to have won the second seat in County Limerick with the help of all these people and the people of Limerick is a statement in itself,” he added.

“I'd like to say thank you very, very much to everyone that voted and trusted me. Over the last five years people have been brilliant to me. They have given me the encouragement that I need to go forward.”

He thanked his family, campaign team, and his office, saying: “I'm only the piece in the front, they're the machine behind it.”

He dedicated his win to “the future of all the next generations,” saying: “this is for them”.

“We want our piece of the pie. We want to make sure our next generation have a place to live and a place to grow up. And the ones that are out of this country, that we can welcome them home, that we'll have a place so they can set up their lives for the next generation,” he continued.

Mr O’Donoghue spent his Election Day on Friday collecting and putting up two “26 foot” Christmas trees for the Woodlands House Hotel and for the village of Ballingarry.

“What's the point of staying home?” he questioned. “I like walking and I like being in the community. It was a wet day for it but we had good fun.”