Former MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Michelle Gildernew has missed out on a seat in the European elections in the Republic of Ireland.
She was running in Midlands-North-West for Sinn Féin but lost out on the final count to Ciaran Mullooly of Independent Ireland.
The 5 seats went to Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan (Independent), Barry Cowen (Fianna Fáil), Nina Carberry (Fine Gael), Maria Walsh (Fine Gael), and Ciaran Mullooly (Independent Ireland).
In January it was announced that Gildernew would stand in the European election. Sinn Féin have since chosen Pat Cullen to stand in Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the general election in July.
Gildernew will now not hold any political office after being eliminated on the last count of the European elections.
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald said that “Michelle Gildernew fought an incredible campaign”.
“She was battling right to the very end, she just missed out.”
“Be in no doubt that Michelle will feature very strongly within the Sinn Féin team into the future. I know, because I’ve been talking to her directly, she will bounce back.”
First Minister and Sinn Féin Vice-President Michelle O’Neill said that Michelle Gildernew will be “walking hand in hand with Pat Cullen in Fermanagh and South Tyrone to get Pat elected”.
She also confirmed that “there absolutely has to be a role for Michelle going forward, she has been a stalwart in that constituency for so long and she will be back in whatever form that will take.”
