‘I’m sure Tony’s pulling strings for me’

SINCE her early 20s, Maureen O’Sullivan worked behind the scenes for one of the best known faces in the Dáil. But she remained as low key in her victory over Dublin Central as she did during her month long election campaign.

When she appeared on the last Christmas cards sent to constituents by Tony Gregory last year, it was clear that Ms O’Sullivan would be seeking to continue the late TD’s legacy by taking over the seat he has held in Dublin Central for three decades.

During all that time, Ms O’Sullivan worked as an election agent for the late Mr Gregory, helping him to hold onto his seat in eight successive elections. But she has had little electoral experience herself.

Ms O’Sullivan was co-opted to Dublin City Council last year when Mick Rafferty resigned. Mr Rafferty had inherited the council seat when the dual-mandate ban prohibited Mr Gregory from contesting the local elections in 2004.

She gained some prominence for her somewhat ungenerous remarks from the altar at Mr Gregory’s funeral in January suggesting he would have been sceptical of those of other political persuasions who turned up for his funeral.

That aside, Ms O’Sullivan is quietly spoken and has a gentle disposition not usually associated with politicians. She appeared to be a little media shy at the RDS on Saturday, having a quiet word in the corner with individual journalists in contrast to the frenzy that followed George Lee’s numerous media doorsteps.

When she takes up her seat in the Dáil tomorrow, she will bring to an end more than 30 years as a teacher of English and history as well as career guidance councillor in St Mary’s Secondary School in Baldoyle.

And she’ll no doubt be thinking about her associate and friend whose untimely death caused the by-election. “He’ll have gone straight to heaven, I’m sure he’s pulling strings for me,” she said.