"I had a good innings" - veteran Durkan calls it a day after losing first election in over 40 years

Veteran TD Bernard Durkan of Fine Gael has bowed out of politics after an incredible 42 year career.

It was always going to be a tough battle for the Mayo native (79) after he polled just 4,640 First Preferences.

He ended up in the runner-up position in the five-seat Kildare North constituency after amassing 6,881 after transfers. 

Reflecting on the election campaign, Mr Durkan told the Leinster Leader he found it impossible to dispel the notion that he had a safe seat and would be comfortably re-elected.

He explained: "A man came up to me on polling day and said: 'you needn't worry Bernard - you'll be OK!'"

He added: "I have a saying that every election is like the first one. You have to get the votes to draw enough support to get elected.

“ I did a lot of work over the past four and a half years and sometimes you can become a victim of over performance."

Mr Durkan said that protests during 2024 at Castletown House in Celbridge over a controversial new entrance may have hampered his support because he may have been the victim of a "protest vote" as a Government TD.

He said he wouldn't be interested in the Seanad and planned to retire from national politics. "I have given it my all," he added.

Durkan has had a remarkable electoral record - he was returned to the Dáil at general elections in 1982, 1987, 1989, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2011, 2016 and 2020.

He served as Minister of State for Social Welfare from 1994 to 1997. He has held several front bench portfolios in Health, Food, Trade and Industry, Insurance, Overseas Development Aid and Human Rights, and Communications and Natural Resources. He also served in senior roles on Oireachtas Committees.

“In the final analysis, I gave it everything I got. I had a good innings over a long period of time. And my wife and family had to make a lot of sacrifices as well.
“We had the greatest loyalty of a group of campaign workers over several years. Being a TD helped me achieve lots and lots of things and I was always very grateful for the support of the people of Kildare North and Co Kildare.”
In terms of the formation of the next government, Mr Durkan said he would leave those decisions up to those who were elected.
But he added: "A stable government is essential because we're running into challenges, and these may be challenges that we haven't seen before. For example, we have seen the re-election of Donald Trump and he has indicated a belligerence towards Ireland and the European Union."
Mr Durkan also said that the next government must deal with the housing crisis.
“We have to deal with the housing situation more urgently.
“We need to build houses faster and I have said this to the Minister in charge before the break-up of the government.
“We have to ensure that people have a place to live. Whatever we do, it has to be done soon.”