Pat the Cope Gallagher

Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher: The Comeback Kid of Donegal!

After a nail-biting election, Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher returns to the Dáil! 🎉 Read on for all the hilarious twists and turns of his political journey!

Veteran west Donegal politician Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher has once again claimed his throne, securing his seat in the Dáil after a slippery slope in the 2020 elections left him out in the cold. Known for his charismatic personality and fishing tales that could put a sea monster to shame, Gallagher has made a remarkable return, proving that in politics, it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings—and she seems to love a good comeback story!

In a nail-biting finish, Pat 'The Cope' achieved a total of 13,660 votes, comfortably earning him the third seat in the Donegal constituency. It was a bit like watching a championship match where every goal counts! His resurgence came with a boost from Fine Gael's Nikki Bradley, who graciously transferred 1,350 votes his way. Talk about a political partnership that could rival the best duos in friendly banter!

Gallagher's return is especially sweet considering the adrenaline-fueled election of 2020, when he narrowly missed out on reclaiming his position. You could practically hear the collective sigh of the citizens of Donegal at the time—like a well-timed chorus of "Oh, come ON!" But alas, his persistence paid off in spades this time around, demonstrating that age is just a number and that the Dáil is really just a glorified local pub, with plenty of debates and golden moments for camaraderie.

But hold onto your shamrocks, because he wasn't the only one soaring back into the political ring. Alongside Gallagher, Ruth Coppinger of People Before Profit-Solidarity also celebrated her political resurrection, proving that perhaps these elections need a good old-fashioned sports narrative to spice things up. After all, we love a good underdog story! But it leaves many wondering if there will be a reunion concert for all the political comeback kids next year?

Fun fact: Pat 'The Cope' has been a fixture in Irish politics since the late '90s and has garnered a reputation as a savvy fishery advocate, often weaving his love for Donegal's aquatic treasures into his campaigns. And did you know that Donegal, with its gorgeous landscapes and cheeky Atlantic charm, has more than one-third of Ireland's coastline? Now that’s one reason to celebrate Gallagher’s victory—and to perhaps include a few sea shanties to keep spirits high!