By Terry Reilly (c)

FROM once he entered the race everyone treated Dr Jerry Cowley as a real

contender for one of the five Mayo seats. But few, if any, predicted he

would take the first seat ahead of FG's Michael Ring.

That he did, and in stunning style, taking votes from virtually every ballot

box, showing in the process the level of discontent which dwells within the

Mayo electorate. Last week this newspaper urged that the Mayo electorate be

not taken for granted yet again. To its credit it hasn't been, and the vote

for Cowley reflects that. He will make a fine, campaigning TD, and with

Marian Harkin in Sligo/Leitrim and possibly more of the fourteen

Independents returned, they can form a real rump for infrastructural

development in disadvantaged regions. That has to be the hope.