As expected, Roscommon-Galway has returned Michael Fitzmaurice to the Dáil with an emphatic result. Once again topping the poll, the Glinsk man showed he could lose much of the Galway part of the constituency and still be elected.

The married father-of-three had first been elected in a the byelection of 2014, winning the seat vacated by Luke “Ming” Flanagan following his election as an MEP, and he has been returned on each occasion since.

Receiving votes from all over the predominantly rural constituency, Fitzmaurice can rightly take this as an endorsement of his work as a constituency TD, and his criticism of lack of balance in regional development. Chairman of the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, and a straight shooter, he has championed the rights of small farmers and been a vocal opponent to the policies of the Green Party.

Although there was some speculation that he would run in Galway West following the boundary redraw last year, it was accepted wisdom locally that he could be elected in either constituency.

Independent Ireland, the party he joined in February, will hope that the 55-year-old’s success will be replicated in other constituencies.