Brian Crowley the ’Peter Pan’ of European politics likely to top poll

He’s the longest serving MEP in Europe, topping the poll in the last four European elections and despite the toxicity of Fianna Fáil in the 2009 elections, he was once again the biggest vote getter in the country with over 118,000 first preference votes. Nothing, including political polls, suggests this election will be any different.

This weekend, unlike many of his political opponents, the West Cork man isn’t out canvassing per se but, in the words of his campaign manager, is doing “lots of clinic-type meetings with people and groups who have specific issues or problems”. That is his stock in trade, working his sprawling Ireland South constituency weekend in and weekend out.

But the last few years have been gruelling for the 50-year-old from Bandon who lost his brother, Flor, a father-of-three, in a car accident in 2012. Last year, it emerged he himself had gone through 25 surgeries in the two years previous due to ongoing health problems associated with being in a wheelchair for the past 34 years. “He’s been through hell and back,” said one seasoned West Cork political commentator.