"IT is a very sad occasion for the whole of North Tipperary, said Mr Michael Burke, a customer in Purcell's Bar, in Upperchurch, Thurles, echoing the solemn sentiments of most pub-frequenting constituents on hearing last night's news.
Doomsday was not around the corner, the price of a pint of plain had not gone through the roof - but Michael Lowry had resigned from Fine Gael and "it was", Mr Burke paused for added emphasis, "a very sad day".
"Michael Lowry's business affairs are his own business," he continued, rejecting the notion that the matter of Dunnes Stores paying for an extension to the former minister's Tipperary home should have signalled an end to Mr Lowry's career in Fine Gael.
"He is an individual person. The people who are criticising him are all PAYE workers who do not know how a self-employed person operates. The whole thing has been blown out of all proportion," he added.
There were strong indications that Mr Lowry might be planning to run as an independent candidate in the general election. News of his resignation from the party was met in North Tipperary with strong words of personal support.
Mr Francis Glasheen, owner of the Old Abbey pub near Mr Lowry's home in Holycross, said he knew "for a fact that Mr Lowry would stand as an independent in the general election.
A personal friend of the former minister "for the last 20 years, and I will be for the next 20 years", he said he had seen a private poll which indicated that if Mr Lowry stood as an independent candidate in the general election he would win a seat.
Mr Glasheen was "sure" Mr Lowry would stand, he said. He had "major" cross-party and personal support, "right across North Tipperary. ,More than enough [to elect him]. He was "a great guy and "a fantastic politician". He would "rise again".
Cllr Noel Coonan (FG) had not heard the news when contacted by The Irish Times. He had been at a county council meeting and was"a little bit taken aback". There had been "rumblings", he said, "but I didn't believe it would end like this." He was "extremely disappointed and saddened." Mr Lowry had represented the constituency extremely well.
North Tipperary would be the real loser. The vast majority of Fine Gael councillors in Thurles supported the former minister. He felt the party now faced a pretty difficult situation there. If Mr Lowry decided to run, as an independent, the councillors "will have to take stock", he said.
Mr Ailbe Allen, who had been Mr Lowry's director of elections, said the news "would take a couple of days to sink in". If the former minister was to stand as an independent, people in the party there would have to think it over, he said. It would be very hard on people who had been in Fine Gael all their lives.
Cllr May Quinn (FG) said she felt sorry for Mr Lowry. It was hard "for a man who was so much on the way up a year ago", she said. People in, the party would need time to digest the news". If he was to stand as an independent, she would certainly be staying in the party.
As to speculation that she is the person most likely to secure a Fine Gael nomination there now, she said she would certainly accept it if Mr Lowry was "to retire from politics, full stop".
But "the reality is that he very much controls Thurles." She attributed this "extraordinary loyalty" to what he had done for Thurles since he became a member of the Government. "Thurles was so neglected," she said, "and I suppose people are selfish."
At Ned Lowry's pub - owned by Mr Lowry's brother - in Bordnacrusha, near Thurles, a man who did not want to be named reacted to the news with a philosophical sigh: "That's politics," he said.
"It is a bit of a disappointment. Lowry is a good man around the town and that is all that counts at the end of the day."
A barman in a busy pub in Liberty Street, Thurles, declared himself "shocked" after Mr Lowry's resignation statement was read out to him.
"The media should have left him alone," he said. "That man has done more for this town and this county than anyone else. I personally regret that he has resigned, he will be sadly missed."
He said that if Mr Lowry stood for election as an independent candidate he would definitely have his support. "He would have the support of most of the people around here," he added.