Frank Feighan’s poll-topping return to the Dáil for Fine Gael in the first Sligo-Leitrim seat came faster than his 15th-count election to fourth and final seat in 2020.

The former Roscommon TD didn’t even contest the 2016 election because of the certainty of defeat over anger at Roscommon hospital facilities. Feighan had stayed with Enda Kenny’s Fine Gael-Labour coalition when the A&E department closed, a move that led party colleague Denis Naughten to go Independent. Kenny nominated him to the Seanad in 2016.

Feighan (62) is based in Sligo with his young family. He was reared over his parents’ newsagent in Boyle, Co Roscommon.

He spoke in the past of being subjected to “a campaign of hatred and vilification” over the hospital controversy. However, he met a warm reception in this campaign. “We were on people’s doorsteps and they were kind and they’ll listen and they articulated their views.”