GE2024: Disappointed French has no regrets on election run... ‘I gave it my best shot’

Independent Trim-based councillor Noel French was one of three Fine Gael candidates in Meath West in 2020 and while disappointed not to be in closer contention for the third seat, he did improve his vote by over three per cent.

He polled almost 4,000 votes, which equated to a vote share of about 10.5 per cent and finished in fifth place overall. He was eliminated after the third count.

Speaking after the count, French thanked the people for their support and said he had "given it his best shot but it wasn't to be this time" and added that he didn't regret running.

French topped the poll in the Trim Electoral area in the recent local elections with more than 3,500 votes and while he polled well in his home base of Trim and south Meath, it was always going to be a challenge to make big gains in the wider constituency following the short campaign.

With two of the three seats in the constituency thought to be safe in Johnny Guirke (SF) and Peadar Tóibín (Aontú), it would have been a big ask to take the third seat ahead of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.