Manus Kelly is well used to playing games of inches – and it was a similar tale at the weekend as the Glenswilly man was elected to Donegal County Council.
Kelly was one of three Fianna Fáil candidates elected in the Letterkenny municipal district, claiming one of the final four seats yesterday evening.
Kelly has won the Donegal International Rally in each of the last three years. In 2016, he won the rally by just half-a-second and is usually ice cool.
Yesterday, however, the businessman had to leave the count centre for a break/
“I couldn’t stick it any longer in here,” Kelly told Donegal Daily.
“Saturday was just up and down and again into Sunday. You just couldn’t call it. I went home in the afternoon and didn’t know what way things were going.
“Then I got a call to say that things were looking promising. At that stage, I got suited and booted. Even at that stage, you wouldn’t know what twist or turn could have happened.”
Kelly stepped in to contest the seat after sitting councillor James Pat McDaid announced that he would not be seeking re-election.
Manus Mandy Kelly
Kelly said: “It’s been a rollercoaster few days and some of the emotions I’ve gone through have been unreal. I’m very grateful to get a seat and get across the line.
“I’ve been involved in politics for 15 years now. I had an uncle, Jim Lynch, who was an urban district councillor and I helped Ciaran Brogan out.
“I got behind James Pat in the last election and really got my teeth into it. I really enjoyed it. When James made the decision not to put his name forward, he approached me. I had a few weeks to think about it.”
Kelly praised his loyal team, including his Director of Elections Maureen Gallagher and his father, Donal.
He said: “I really underestimated the challenge in the run-up to it, but I enjoyed it. I enjoyed meeting the electorate and working with my team.”
Kelly highlighted traffic management in Letterkenny and other infrastructural issues as some of the items on his agenda as he heads to the chamber for the first time.
He added: “I want to help people with their issues. Small issues are sometimes the most important to the electorate.
“I’m very proud of some of the work that I got done even before the election and the joy and contentment that took to people.
“I’m hoping to help as many people as I can with their issues. I want to get involved in projects that will help the betterment of the whole area.”
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