Count by count: The way Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick is playing out

Conor Bergin has topped the poll in the sprawling Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal District.

The Fine Gael candidate from Borris-in-Ossory was first elected in 2019 as a 25-year-old, then one the youngest councillors in the country. He has grown his vote by almost 700 first preferences on this occasion.

He polled 1,606 on this occasion though the quota is 1,712.

All six outgoing councillors look set to be re-elected despite a strong showing from Fine Gael’s Paddy Buggy who was in sixth position after the first count.

We will use this piece as the count-by-count record of this Municipal District.

1st Count

Conor Bergin leads the way with 1,606 votes, followed by Paddy Bracken whose vote is only marginally down on 2019.

Nobody has reached the quota of 1,712 so the lowest candidate, Labour’s Bryan Corrigan, is eliminated and his votes will be distributed first.

1. Conor Bergin (FG) – 1,606
2. Paddy Bracken (FF) – 1,452
3. James Kelly (Ind) – 1,408
4. John King (FG) – 1,353
5. Ollie Clooney (Ind) – 1,245
6. Paddy Buggy (FG) – 1,111
7. Seamus McDonald (FF) – 1,091
8. Brian Phelan (FF) – 585
9. Fintan Cuddy (FF) – 556
10. Lorna Holohan-Garry (SF) – 453
11. Helen Campion (SF) – 419
12. Declan Good (FF) – 278
13. Kevin Drennan (Ind) – 192
14. Fiona Dunne (Green) – 121
15. Bryan Corrigan (Lab) – 99 – ELIMINATED after 1st count

2nd Count – Distribution of Bryan Corrigan (Labour) votes (99)

Bryan Corrigan of Labour is the first to go and his 99 votes make no difference to the overall running order. The Green Party’s Fiona Dunne fares best by picking up 15 but it doesn’t take her close to overtaking Kevin Drennan above her.

With no candidate exceeding the quota, Fiona Dunne is next to be eliminated and her votes will be distributed in the 3rd count.

1. Conor Bergin (FG) – 1,614 (+8)
2. Paddy Bracken (FF) – 1,457 (+5)
3. James Kelly (Ind) – 1,416 (+8)
4. John King (FG) – 1,359 (+6)
5. Ollie Clooney (Ind) – 1,258 (+13)
6. Paddy Buggy (FG) – 1,122 (+11)
7. Seamus McDonald (FF) – 1,094 (+3)
8. Brian Phelan (FF) – 594 (+9)
9. Fintan Cuddy (FF) – 558 (+2)
10. Lorna Holohan-Garry (SF) – 458 (+5)
11. Helen Campion (SF) – 425 (+6)
12. Declan Good (FF) – 279 (+1)
13. Kevin Drennan (Ind) – 195 (+3)
14. Fiona Dunne (Green) – 136 (+15) – ELIMINATED after 2nd count
15. Bryan Corrigan (Lab) – 99 – ELIMINATED after 1st count

3rd count – Distribution of Fiona Dunne (Green) votes (136)

Another small number of transfers from one of the lower candidates makes no material difference to the running order. Next to go will be Kevin Drennan, the Independent from Camross.

1. Conor Bergin (FG) – 1,628 (+14)
2. Paddy Bracken (FF) – 1,470 (+13)
3. James Kelly (Ind) – 1,433 (+17)
4. John King (FG) – 1,363 (+4)
5. Ollie Clooney (Ind) – 1,275 (+17)
6. Paddy Buggy (FG) – 1,137 (+15)
7. Seamus McDonald (FF) – 1,101 (+7)
8. Brian Phelan (FF) – 602 (+8)
9. Fintan Cuddy (FF) – 573 (+5)
10. Lorna Holohan-Garry (SF) – 475 (+17)
11. Helen Campion (SF) – 430 (+5)
12. Declan Good (FF) – 280 (+1)
13. Kevin Drennan (Ind) – 198 (+3) – ELIMINATED after 3rd count
14. Fiona Dunne (Green) – 136 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count
15. Bryan Corrigan (Lab) – 99 – ELIMINATED after 1st count

4th count – Distribution of Kevin Drennan (Independent) votes (198)

Kevin Drennan’s votes benefit James Kelly more than anyone but still nobody has reached the quota.

Counting is adjourned for the night and will resume on Monday with the distribution of the next lowest candidate, Fianna Fail’s Clonaslee-based Declan Good.

With 31 votes between them, that could see Seamus McDonald overtake Paddy Buggy and into sixth place.

1. Conor Bergin (FG) – 1,659 (+31)
2. James Kelly (Ind) – 1,497 (+64)
3. Paddy Bracken (FF) – 1,472 (+2)
4. John King (FG) – 1,366 (+3)
5. Ollie Clooney (Ind) – 1,310 (+35)
6. Paddy Buggy (FG) – 1,141 (+4)
7. Seamus McDonald (FF) – 1,103 (+2)
8. Brian Phelan (FF) – 603 (+1)
9. Fintan Cuddy (FF) – 588 (+15)
10. Lorna Holohan-Garry (SF) – 477 (+2)
11. Helen Campion (SF) – 438 (+8) – ELIMINATED after 5th count
12. Declan Good (FF) – 284  – ELIMINATED after 4th count
13. Kevin Drennan (Ind) – 198 – ELIMINATED after 3rd count
14. Fiona Dunne (Green) – 136  – ELIMINATED after 2nd count
15. Bryan Corrigan (Lab) – 99 – ELIMINATED after 1st count

5th count – Distribution of Declan Good (Fianna Fail) votes (284)

Seamus McDonald (Fianna Fail) is the big winner following the elimination of his running mate Declan Good. He picks up 108 which helps him above Paddy Buggy.

Again, nobody reaches the quota and elected so the bottom candidate – Sinn Fein’s Helen Campion will be eliminated.

1. Conor Bergin (FG) – 1,665 (+6)
2. James Kelly (Ind) – 1,506 (+9)
3. Paddy Bracken (FF) – 1,501 (+29)
4. John King (FG) – 1,371 (+5)
5. Ollie Clooney (Ind) – 1,312 (+2)
6. Seamus McDonald (FF) – 1,211 (+108)
7. Paddy Buggy (FG) – 1,191 (+50)
8. Brian Phelan (FF) – 609 (+6)
9. Fintan Cuddy (FF) – 596 (+8)
10. Lorna Holohan-Garry (SF) – 507 (+30)
11. Helen Campion (SF) – 441 (+3) – ELIMINATED after 5th count
12. Declan Good (FF) – 284 – ELIMINATED after 4th count
13. Kevin Drennan (Ind) – 198 – ELIMINATED after 3rd count
14. Fiona Dunne (Green) – 136 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count
15. Bryan Corrigan (Lab) – 99 – ELIMINATED after 1st count

6th count – Distribution of Helen Campion (Sinn Fein) votes 

The Sinn Fein vote sticks together with the elimination of Helen Campion from Rathdowney with 247 of her transfers going to running mate Lorna Holohan-Garry.

That lifts her above Fianna Fáil’s Fintan Cuddy who will be next to go as again nobody has reached the quota.

1. Conor Bergin (FG) – 1,684 (+19)
2. James Kelly (Ind) – 1,536 (+30)
3. Paddy Bracken (FF) – 1,515 (+14)
4. John King (FG) – 1,413 (+42)
5. Ollie Clooney (Ind) – 1,332 (+20)
6. Seamus McDonald (FF) – 1,214 (+3)
7. Paddy Buggy (FG) – 1,194 (+3)
8. Brian Phelan (FF) – 636 (+27)
9. Lorna Holohan-Garry (SF) – 754 (+247)
10. Fintan Cuddy (FF) – 601 (+5) – ELIMINATED after 6th count
11. Helen Campion (SF) – 441 – ELIMINATED after 5th count
12. Declan Good (FF) – 284 – ELIMINATED after 4th count
13. Kevin Drennan (Ind) – 198 – ELIMINATED after 3rd count
14. Fiona Dunne (Green) – 136 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count
15. Bryan Corrigan (Lab) – 99 – ELIMINATED after 1st count

7th count – Distribution of Fintan Cuddy (Fianna Fail) votes (601)

Cuddy’s votes get both Conor Bergin and James Kelly across the quota and elected.

Conor Bergin’s surplus of 101 will now be redistributed. James Kelly also has a surplus of 28 but that will not be counted yet.

QUOTA – 1,712

10th count – Distribution of Lorna Holohan-Garry votes (800)

That is now a full result.

Conor Bergin (Fine Gael), James Kelly (Independent), Paddy Bracken (Fianna Fail), John King (Fine Gael), Ollie Clooney (Independent) and Seamus McDonald (Fianna Fail) have now all been elected.

Paddy Buggy has missed out despite a very strong performance.

SEE ALSO – Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick: Bergin boosts his vote big time as FF transfers to get McDonald home – Laois Today