Fine Gael Senator Colm Burke has finally made it to Dáil Éireann after winning the third seat in Cork North Central some 38 years after he first contested the constituency for the party. An emotional Mr Burke, flanked by wife Mary McCaffrey as he was congratulated by Tánaiste Simon Coveney and former Fine Gael TD Bernard Allen, spoke about what his success meant to him. “Personally, I am delighted – there was such a team effort made by the organisation, and working as a team we delivered the votes and delivered the seat for Fine Gael in Cork North Central. “It’s very satisfying personally, but it’s also a great thing for the Fine Gael organisation in Cork North Central – it’s a huge boost for them because we’ve gone through difficult times over the last few years here in the constituency”. Mr Burke recalled how he was just out of university when he ran in 1982 alongside then-sitting Fine Gael TD Liam Burke (no relation) only to finish seventh.

Source: The Irish Times February 11, 2020 10:39 UTC