I only got 401 votes, but I’m a winner

My glass is half full.

Seven weeks ago, I decided to run in this year’s local elections in the Galway City West ward. Within a week, I had my posters and leaflets printed. I had a team of 30 canvassers. I ran a six-week canvass: erecting 100 posters and visiting 5,000 houses. I began as a political unknown.

Some 270 people thought I was the best person to represent them on city council. By the time I was eliminated, on count five, I had 401 votes, a third of a quota.