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Back again: Newcastle West councillor Michael Collins celebrates re-election with his wife Fiona and other supporters at Limerick Racecourse following June's elections | PICTURE: Adrian Butler
NEWCASTLE West councillor Michael Collins says he is weighing up whether to seek the Fianna Fail nomination to run in the next general election.
Cllr Collins, who runs an auctioneering business in the heart of the county town, was returned to the local authority for the fifth straight time last month.
He smashed through the quota on the first count with 2,012 first preference votes as voters in the Newcastle West electoral area returned the same six councillors they went into the election with.
Given his vote haul, his attention is now turning to a general election which could be held as early as autumn.
Asked if he would like to be a running mate to local TD Niall Collins, he said: “It has been asked, and I would hope that I would be considered.”
“I delivered in a general election the last time in tougher circumstances for Fianna Fail then they are now and I will have to give it some serious consideration,” he added.
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Cllr Collins joined his namesake on the ticket with just a fortnight to go until Ireland went to the polls in 2020.
It came after former Fianna Fail councillor Eddie Ryan was added to the ticket, but then decided within a short time not to contest.He now sits as an Independent.
With time against him, Cllr Collins managed to secure 5,532 votes before being eliminated at the third count.
But he hopes given the fact Fianna Fail has become the largest party in local government, the circumstances could be more favourable this time in a constituency where the Soldiers of Destiny have traditionally dominated.
As for this council election, the former mayor has welcomed the fact centrist parties have come out strongly.
“It’s a significant move. I’ve always been very blessed that I've been elected comfortably. I got a good feelings going around and when the votes were counted, the feeling I got on the ground proved to be true,” he concluded.--
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