THE Healy-Raes broke the mould, but the breakaway Independent Ireland party is an entirely new departure in Irish politics. Cork South West TD Michael Collins had been part of the Rural Independent Group before deciding in November 2023 to form the Independent Ireland party, which surprised everyone at the weekend with its astonishing returns. For starters, Danny Collins, who was co-opted as a councillor in 2016, topped the poll as an independent councillor in the Bantry electoral area in 2019, and again as an Independent Ireland candidate on Saturday. Meanwhile, first-time candidate John Collins, another brother, polled extremely strongly in Bandon-Kinsale with 2,380 first preference votes and was also elected. It was John Collins who put his finger on it when he said: ‘The Independent Ireland party puts more structure on the group.

Source: Irish Independent June 18, 2024 21:50 UTC