Meath East by-election to be close-run contest

As voters are set to take to the polls today (Wednesday) in the Meath East by-election, political pundits are predicting that it will be a close-run contest between former Fianna Fáil TD, Thomas Byrne who lost his seat last time out and the daughter of the late Shane McEntee, Helen McEntee for Fine Gael.
There are a total of 11 candidates on the ballot paper for the by-election, which was necessitated by the tragic death of Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Shane McEntee, last December.
A farmer from Castletown, Nobber, Deputy McEntee had very strong links with the agricultural sector along the Cavan-Meath border and through his wife, Kathleen, who hailed from the Kingscourt area.
Should 26-year-old Helen McEntee take her late father’s seat, she will buck a trend of government candidates not winning by-elections. On the other hand, should Thomas Byrne, who saw his party’s support more than halve just two years ago, reclaim his seat, it will be a dramatic comeback for Fianna Fáil.
Cavan Fine Gael TD, Joe O’Reilly, was canvassing for Helen McEntee on no less than four occasions in the run up to these elections, not only within her perceived stronghold in north Meath and along the Cavan border but also nearer Dublin, in towns like Dunshaughlin and the commuter belts.
While admitting that no candidate will win this by-election on the first count, he is confident that Shane McEntee’s daughter will win out eventually against fellow runner Thomas Byrne of the Fianna Fáil party.
“She is recognised in her own right as being a very good and capable candidate.
“The recognition of her father’s work in the county cannot of course be discounted, he was a great man and the recognition of his worth is reflected on every doorstep we have visited and even by the other candidates.
“I think overall, people realise that difficult decisions are being made but that they have to be made, and they would have to be made regardless. People largely respect that,” he told the Celt yesterday (Tuesday) on the eve of the by-election.

Candidates in the field
The candidates (as they appear on the ballot papers) are: Senator Thomas Byrne (FF), Ben Gilroy, Direct Democracy Ireland (DDI), Cllr Eoin Holmes (Lab), Charlie Keddy (Ind), Mick Martin (Ind), Seamus McDonagh (Workers’ Party), Helen McEntee (FG), Gerard O’Brien (Ind), Sean O Buachalla (Green Party), Darren O’Rourke (SF) and Jim Tallon (Ind).
The polls will open today (Wednesday) from 8am to 9pm.