'Community to me is everything': A jubilant John Hearne is re-elected to Waterford City South
John Hearne, Sinn Féin, pictured at the Waterford Count Centre at SETU Arena with his supporters. John was elected in the Waterford City South LEA. Photo: Joe Evans
Sinn Féin Councillor John Hearne has been re-elected to Waterford City South on the second count on Sunday at SETU Arena, having secured a comfortable 1,065 votes.
As of Sunday morning, June 9, both he and Donal Barry (Independent) will be returning to Waterford City & County Council for their constituency.
Speaking to the Waterford News & Star shortly after the second count came in, John took the opportunity to thank his wife Mary Pat, his community of Larchville/ Lisduggan, and his chief of staff Kieran Browne for being with him "day in, day out".
He said: “It's absolutely humbling to be a candidate. To get the chance to do what you do and do it well.”
“The great community I come from, I knew what elected me this time was all the committees I was on, in the sense that they were going out and saying ‘We need to get John in this time, we need to make sure he gets it done’, and they got it done.”
“Community to me is everything. I can’t understand why people get in the way of it. I understand people being career politicians to get in for the money and to be seen shaking hands. But the beauty of it is, is when we won the all-Ireland (Pride of Place Awards) last year, the old boys crying, you know, I’ll never see that again. Bringing home the bacon to the Parish.”
John is proud to be a part of the diverse community of Larchville-Lisduggan, and was touched to see the support from people across different faiths.
“It was great to see the Muslim community signing up to support me for this election and we’re delighted with that."
Part of what makes the community tick, in John’s opinion, is the structure of the committee. According to John: “There is no ego. We're very clever in our committees, we don't have any. You just turn up to work.”
It has been a tough election nationally for the party, but there are positive signs in the Déise.
Fellow Sinn Féin candidate Joeanne Bailey is making headway in the same constituency, though a number of counts remain, followed behind by Kevin Burke, who also ran for Sinn Féin in Waterford City South.
John said: “The template is there, Sinn Féin did not do so great in other places but the template is there. Just get into your community and do the work, get it done. Bring it home.”
