Fianna Fail councillor Michael Maguire is nothing if not resilient.
Having won 4,000 first-preference votes in the 1997 general election, the now 60-year-old was a warm favourite to secure the party's nomination in last year's by-election in Tipperary South.
When he was beaten into second place by fellow councillor Mr Barry O'Brien, it seemed his prospects of making it to the Dail had finally disappeared.
A year later, the former Tipperary GAA board chairman is back, without a trace of bitterness over his previous rejection.
"You accept the democratic decision and that's what it was. I had no hang-ups about it. I didn't mind one bit in the world, because in politics you must take the rough with the smooth."
Absent this time round, says Mr Maguire, are factors which undermined Mr O'Brien's campaign. The election was conducted in the wake of a series of tribunal revelations and the Hugh O'Flaherty controversy. But Mr Maguire says he has never had such a good reaction on the doorsteps as he is getting now:
"There's a very intelligent electorate out there now and they see how good this Government is. There's a huge floating vote and these are educated people; they know what's right for the country and they what's right for South Tipperary as well."
The Government, he insists, is delivering for Tipperary South, despite opposition claims that the constituency is neglected. He points to the £17 million being spent on a first-phase redevelopment of St Joseph's Hospital in Clonmel and the announcement last February that a US pharmaceutical company, ALZA Corporation, is to create up to 250 jobs in Cashel in an IDA-supported project.
"Clonmel is going well. Tipperary and Carrick-on-Suir are the ones we're fighting for. I have no doubt by the end of this Government's term there will be business of some type in both. Jobs are what we want. We want to keep our own people in our own county and a second Fianna Fail TD in the constituency can help us to achieve that."
He acknowledges there are problems in the health service but says these are being addressed. "In their last term in office the Fine Gael-led government increased the health budget nationally by £400 million - we've gone from £2.5 billion to £5 billion."
The conventional wisdom is that Mr Maguire could top the poll, but securing transfers is not Fianna Fail's strong point. He accepts this is a challenge, but is confident of attracting cross-party support.
His life-long involvement in the GAA has made him friends throughout the constituency.
"I work hard for everybody, regardless of party, so I see no problem in getting across-the-board support." Whatever happens, the Tipperary town-based candidate will surely improve on last year's performance, when Fianna Fail's share of the vote dropped by 14 per cent. But he will not be satisfied, he insists, to simply restore pride and see the seat go to another candidate.
"A good performance is no good, you have to win," he says, "I am going out to win and I'm quite confident I will win the seat."
The by-election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death last year of Fine Gael deputy Ms Theresa Ahearn, takes place on Saturday, June 30th. The candidates are: Mr Michael Maguire (FF), Mr Denis Landy (Lab), Ms Phil Prendergast (Ind) and Mr Tom Hayes (FG).