Home Politics Local Elections Count by count: Working through the candidates in Portlaoise with seven seats...

Count by count: Working through the candidates in Portlaoise with seven seats to fill

By
Steven Miller
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After a long wait for a first count, progress is now being made in the Portlaoise Municipal District where 20 candidates were in the running for seven seats.

Willie Aird has once again topped the poll, taking the first seat in Portlaoise. It is the eighth election that Aird has been successful in having first been elected in 1985. Prior to that he was elected to the old Portlaoise Town Commission in 1979.

The other key takeaway is that Independent candidate Tommy Mulligan is to be elected at the expense of Fine Gael’s Thomasina Connell.

In an almost unprecedented situation, due to a number of Portlaoise boxes not been tallied on Saturday, there was no full tally available in this district.

And what the first count showed was that Marie Tuohy, the outgoing Labour candidate, was in seventh place – eight votes ahead of Fianna Fáil’s Naeem Iqbal. Thomasina Connell is a further 84 votes behind.

Having been elected on the first count, the next step is to distribute his surplus of 80.

1st count 

Quota: 1,460

  1. Willie Aird (Fine Gael) – 1,540 – ELECTED on the 1st count
  2. Caroline Dwane-Stanley (Sinn Fein) – 1,415
  3. John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fail) – 1,147
  4. Tommy Mulligan (Independent) – 1,099
  5. Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail) – 1,089
  6. Barry Walsh (Fine Gael) – 849
  7. Marie Tuohy (Labour) – 632
  8. Naeem Iqbal (Fianna Fail) – 624
  9. Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael) – 540
  10. Pauline Flanagan (Independent) – 389
  11. Bolaji Adeyanju (Independent) – 345 
  12. Dom Dunne (Independent) – 340
  13. Rosie Palmer (Green Party) – 295
  14. Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein) – 276
  15. Noel Burke (Independent) – 263
  16. Donal Kelly (Independent) – 244
  17. Colette Byrne (Independent Ireland) – 233
  18. Martha Ryan (Aontu) – 182 
  19. Jason Phelan (Sinn Fein) – 124 (+0) 
  20. John Cowhig (Independent) – 49 (+0) 

2nd count – Distribution of Willie Aird surplus (80)

Quota: 1,460

Aird’s Portlaoise-based Fine Gael running mate Thomasina Connell benefits more than any other candidate on the distribution of the 80 votes

But it’s not a big surplus and the 16 she gets is just marginally more than what Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fáil) receives, Fitzgerald being a close neighbour just down the Abbeyleix road.

Barry Walsh (Fine Gael) and Independent Tommy Mulligan, another Portlaoise neighbour get nine votes apiece. Overall the transfers make no difference to the run of things.

In that case, with nobody else being elected, the bottom two candidates are eliminated because even if Jason Phelan (Sinn Fein) got all of John Cowhig’s votes, he couldn’t surpass Martha Ryan of Aontu above him.

  1. Willie Aird (Fine Gael) – 1,541 – ELECTED on the 1st count
  2. Caroline Dwane-Stanley (Sinn Fein) – 1,415 (+5)
  3. John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fail) – 1,153 (+6)
  4. Tommy Mulligan (Independent) – 1,108 (+9)
  5. Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail) – 1,103 (+14)
  6. Barry Walsh (Fine Gael) – 858 (+9)
  7. Marie Tuohy (Labour) – 637 (+5)
  8. Naeem Iqbal (Fianna Fail) – 625 (+1)
  9. Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael) – 556 (+16)
  10. Pauline Flanagan (Independent) – 392 (+3)
  11. Bolaji Adeyanju (Independent) – 345 (0)
  12. Dom Dunne (Independent) – 344 (+4)
  13. Rosie Palmer (Green Party) – 296 (+1)
  14. Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein) – 277 (+1)
  15. Noel Burke (Independent) – 265 (+2) 
  16. Donal Kelly (Independent) – 246 (+2)
  17. Colette Byrne (Independent Ireland) – 234 (+1)
  18. Martha Ryan (Aontu) – 183 (+1)
  19. Jason Phelan (Sinn Fein) – 124 (+0) – ELIMINATED after 2nd count
  20. John Cowhig (Independent) – 49 (+0) – ELIMINATED after 2nd count

3rd count – Distribution of John Cowhig (49) and Jason Phelan (124) votes

Two candidates were eliminated at the same time – and a third of the votes from Sinn Fein’s Jason Phelan in Abbeyleix go to his running mate Caroline Dwane-Stanley, who is elected having exactly reached the quota.

The other Sinn Fein candidate, Maria McCormack, also gets a third of the transfers to overtake Rosie Palmer of the Green Party.

Nobody else has reached the quota so the next lowest, Martha Ryan of Aontu, will be next to go. The distribution of her votes will be the first bit of business to be done on Monday morning when counting resumes.

  1. Willie Aird (Fine Gael) – 1,541 – ELECTED on the 1st count
  2. Caroline Dwane-Stanley (Sinn Fein) – 1,460 (+40) – ELECTED on the 3rd count
  3. John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fail) – 1,170 (+17)
  4. Tommy Mulligan (Independent) – 1,117 (+9)
  5. Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail) – 1,103 (+0)
  6. Barry Walsh (Fine Gael) – 861 (+3)
  7. Marie Tuohy (Labour) – 646 (+9)
  8. Naeem Iqbal (Fianna Fail) – 626 (+1)
  9. Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael) – 561 (+5)
  10. Pauline Flanagan (Independent) – 395 (+3)
  11. Dom Dunne (Independent) – 358 (+14)
  12. Bolaji Adeyanju (Independent) – 345 (0)
  13. Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein) – 318 (+41)
  14. Rosie Palmer (Green Party) – 302 (+6)
  15. Noel Burke (Independent) – 274 (+9) 
  16. Donal Kelly (Independent) – 248 (+2)
  17. Colette Byrne (Independent Ireland) – 237 (+3) 
  18. Martha Ryan (Aontu) – 187 (+4) – ELIMINATED after 3rd count
  19. Jason Phelan (Sinn Fein) – 124 (+0) – ELIMINATED after 2nd count
  20. John Cowhig (Independent) – 49 (+0) – ELIMINATED after 2nd count

4th count – Distribution of Martha Ryan votes (187)

Aontu candidate Martha Ryan is next to be eliminated her 187 votes are distributed. Marie Tuohy again nudges a bit further ahead of Naeem Iqbal.

No candidate reaches the quota so the next lowest – Independent Donal Kelly – will go next.

  • QUOTA – 1,460
  1. Willie Aird (Fine Gael) – 1,541 – ELECTED on the 1st count
  2. Caroline Dwane-Stanley (Sinn Fein) – 1,460 – ELECTED on the 3rd count
  3. John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fail) – 1,180 (+10)
  4. Tommy Mulligan (Independent) – 1,144 (+27)
  5. Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail) – 1,112 (+9)
  6. Barry Walsh (Fine Gael) – 866 (+5)
  7. Marie Tuohy (Labour) – 658 (+12)
  8. Naeem Iqbal (Fianna Fail) – 629 (+3)
  9. Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael) – 565 (+4)
  10. Pauline Flanagan (Independent) – 407 (+12)
  11. Dom Dunne (Independent) – 367 (+9)
  12. Bolaji Adeyanju (Independent) – 348 (+3)
  13. Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein) – 325 (+7)
  14. Rosie Palmer (Green Party) – 305 (+3)
  15. Noel Burke (Independent) – 281 (+7)
  16. Colette Byrne (Independent Ireland) – 271 (+34)
  17. Donal Kelly (Independent) – 258 (+10) – ELIMINATED after the 4th count
  18. Martha Ryan (Aontu) – 187 (+4) – ELIMINATED after 3rd count
  19. Jason Phelan (Sinn Fein) – 124 (+0) – ELIMINATED after 2nd count
  20. John Cowhig (Independent) – 49 (+0) – ELIMINATED after 2nd count

5th count – Distribution of Donal Kelly votes (258)

Independent candidate Donal Kelly is next to go and his 258 votes stay primarily with fellow Portlaoise-based Independents.

Tommy Mulligan has now pushed ahead of John Joe Fennelly into third place but nobody is within 250 votes of exceeding the quota yet.

The next lowest is Abbeyleix-based Independent Noel Burke and his votes will be distributed next.

  • QUOTA – 1,460
  1. Willie Aird (Fine Gael) – 1,541 – ELECTED on the 1st count
  2. Caroline Dwane-Stanley (Sinn Fein) – 1,460 – ELECTED on the 3rd count
  3. Tommy Mulligan (Independent) – 1,197 (+53)
  4. John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fail) – 1,188 (+8)
  5. Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail) – 1,123 (+11)
  6. Barry Walsh (Fine Gael) – 880 (+14)
  7. Marie Tuohy (Labour) – 671 (+13)
  8. Naeem Iqbal (Fianna Fail) – 631 (+2)
  9. Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael) – 578 (+13)
  10. Pauline Flanagan (Independent) – 439 (+32)
  11. Dom Dunne (Independent) – 399 (+32)
  12. Bolaji Adeyanju (Independent) – 353 (+5)
  13. Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein) – 332 (+7)
  14. Rosie Palmer (Green Party) – 307 (+2)
  15. Colette Byrne (Independent Ireland) – 294 (+23)
  16. Noel Burke (Independent) – 290 (+9) – ELIMINATED after the 5th count
  17. Donal Kelly (Independent) – 258 – ELIMINATED after the 4th count
  18. Martha Ryan (Aontu) – 187 – ELIMINATED after 3rd count
  19. Jason Phelan (Sinn Fein) – 124 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count
  20. John Cowhig (Independent) – 49 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count

6th count – Distribution of Noel Burke (Independent) votes (290)

Abbeyleix Independent Noel Burke gives 85 votes to Fianna Fáil’s John Joe Fennelly to push him back into third but again nobody eliminated.

Independent Ireland’s Colette Byrne jumps above Rosie Palmer of the Green Party, meaning she is the next to go.

  • QUOTA – 1,460
  1. Willie Aird (Fine Gael) – 1,541 – ELECTED on the 1st count
  2. Caroline Dwane-Stanley (Sinn Fein) – 1,460 – ELECTED on the 3rd count
  3. John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fail) – 1,273 (+85)
  4. Tommy Mulligan (Independent) – 1,209 (+12)
  5. Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail) – 1,129 (+6)
  6. Barry Walsh (Fine Gael) – 912 (+32)
  7. Marie Tuohy (Labour) – 690 (+19)
  8. Naeem Iqbal (Fianna Fail) – 632 (+1)
  9. Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael) – 584 (+6)
  10. Pauline Flanagan (Independent) – 554 (+15)
  11. Dom Dunne (Independent) – 427 (+28)
  12. Bolaji Adeyanju (Independent) – 360 (+7)
  13. Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein) – 339 (+7)
  14. Colette Byrne (Independent Ireland) – 325 (+31)
  15. Rosie Palmer (Green Party) – 313 (+6) – ELIMINATED after the 6th count
  16. Noel Burke (Independent) – 290 – ELIMINATED after the 5th count
  17. Donal Kelly (Independent) – 258 – ELIMINATED after the 4th count
  18. Martha Ryan (Aontu) – 187 – ELIMINATED after 3rd count
  19. Jason Phelan (Sinn Fein) – 124 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count
  20. John Cowhig (Independent) – 49 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count

7th count – Distribution of Noel Burke (Independent) votes (290)

Once again, nobody is elected following that count. Rosie Palmer of the Green Party will now be excluded and her votes of 313 redistributed.

  1. Willie Aird (Fine Gael) – 1,541 – ELECTED on the 1st count
  2. Caroline Dwane-Stanley (Sinn Fein) – 1,460 – ELECTED on the 3rd count
  3. John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fail) – 1,273 (+85)
  4. Tommy Mulligan (Independent) – 1,209 (+12)
  5. Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail) – 1,129 (+6)
  6. Barry Walsh (Fine Gael) – 912 (+32)
  7. Marie Tuohy (Labour) – 690 (+19)
  8. Naeem Iqbal (Fianna Fail) – 632 (+1)
  9. Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael) – 584 (+6)
  10. Pauline Flanagan (Independent) – 554 (+15)
  11. Dom Dunne (Independent) – 427 (+28)
  12. Bolaji Adeyanju (Independent) – 360 (+7)
  13. Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein) – 339 (+7)
  14. Colette Byrne (Independent Ireland) – 325 (+31)
  15. Rosie Palmer (Green Party) – 313 (+6) – ELIMINATED after the 6th count
  16. Noel Burke (Independent) – 290 – ELIMINATED after the 5th count
  17. Donal Kelly (Independent) – 258 – ELIMINATED after the 4th count
  18. Martha Ryan (Aontu) – 187 – ELIMINATED after 3rd count
  19. Jason Phelan (Sinn Fein) – 124 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count
  20. John Cowhig (Independent) – 49 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count

8th count – Distribution of Colette Byrne votes (352)

Bolaji Adeyanju has now been eliminated. Marie Tuohy leads Naeem Iqbal by 116 votes in the race for the final seat.

  1. Willie Aird (Fine Gael) – 1,541 – ELECTED on the 1st count
  2. Caroline Dwane-Stanley (Sinn Fein) – 1,460 – ELECTED on the 3rd count
  3. John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fail) – 1,378 (+53)
  4. Tommy Mulligan (Independent) – 1,276 (+49)
  5. Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail) – 1,152 (+8)
  6. Barry Walsh (Fine Gael) – 974 (+34)
  7. Marie Tuohy (Labour) – 757 (+6)
  8. Naeem Iqbal (Fianna Fail) – 641(+1)
  9. Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael) – 613 (+10)
  10. Pauline Flanagan (Independent) – 510 (+37)
  11. Dom Dunne (Independent) – 477 (+45)
  12. Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein) – 387 (+27)
  13. Bolaji Adeyanju (Independent) – 385 (+8) – ELIMINATED after the 8th count
  14. Colette Byrne (Independent Ireland) – 352 – ELIMINATED after the 7th count
  15. Rosie Palmer (Green Party) – 313 – ELIMINATED after the 6th count
  16. Noel Burke (Independent) – 290 – ELIMINATED after the 5th count
  17. Donal Kelly (Independent) – 258 – ELIMINATED after the 4th count
  18. Martha Ryan (Aontu) – 187 – ELIMINATED after 3rd count
  19. Jason Phelan (Sinn Fein) – 124 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count
  20. John Cowhig (Independent) – 49 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count

9th count – Distribution of Bolaji Adeyanju votes (385)

Nobody elected there. Maria McCormack is now excluded and her votes will be distributed.

  1. Willie Aird (Fine Gael) – 1,541 – ELECTED on the 1st count
  2. Caroline Dwane-Stanley (Sinn Fein) – 1,460 – ELECTED on the 3rd count
  3. John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fail) – 1,389 (+11)
  4. Tommy Mulligan (Independent) – 1,303 (+27)
  5. Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail) – 1,165 (+13)
  6. Barry Walsh (Fine Gael) – 979 (+5)
  7. Marie Tuohy (Labour) – 797 (+40)
  8. Naeem Iqbal (Fianna Fail) – 700 (+59)
  9. Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael) – 658 (+45)
  10. Pauline Flanagan (Independent) – 531 (+21)
  11. Dom Dunne (Independent) – 508 (+31)
  12. Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein) – 418 (+31) – ELIMINATED after the 9th count
  13. Bolaji Adeyanju (Independent) – 385 – ELIMINATED after the 8th count
  14. Colette Byrne (Independent Ireland) – 352 – ELIMINATED after the 7th count
  15. Rosie Palmer (Green Party) – 313 – ELIMINATED after the 6th count
  16. Noel Burke (Independent) – 290 – ELIMINATED after the 5th count
  17. Donal Kelly (Independent) – 258 – ELIMINATED after the 4th count
  18. Martha Ryan (Aontu) – 187 – ELIMINATED after 3rd count
  19. Jason Phelan (Sinn Fein) – 124 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count
  20. John Cowhig (Independent) – 49 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count

10th count – Distribution of Maria McCormack votes (418)

Again nobody elected so Dom Dunne will be next to go.

QUOTA – 1,460

  1. Willie Aird (Fine Gael) – 1,460 – ELECTED on the 1st count
  2. Caroline Dwane-Stanley (Sinn Fein) – 1,460 – ELECTED on the 3rd count
  3. John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fail) – 1,398 (+9)
  4. Tommy Mulligan (Independent) – 1,339 (+36)
  5. Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail) – 1,181 (+16)
  6. Barry Walsh (Fine Gael) – 1,004 (+25)
  7. Marie Tuohy (Labour) – 850 (+53)
  8. Naeem Iqbal (Fianna Fail) – 711 (+11)
  9. Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael) – 681 (+23)
  10. Pauline Flanagan (Independent) – 570 (+39)
  11. Dom Dunne (Independent) – 542 (+34) – ELIMINATED after the 10th count
  12. Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein) – 418 – ELIMINATED after the 9th count
  13. Bolaji Adeyanju (Independent) – 385 – ELIMINATED after the 8th count
  14. Colette Byrne (Independent Ireland) – 352 – ELIMINATED after the 7th count
  15. Rosie Palmer (Green Party) – 313 – ELIMINATED after the 6th count
  16. Noel Burke (Independent) – 290 – ELIMINATED after the 5th count
  17. Donal Kelly (Independent) – 258 – ELIMINATED after the 4th count
  18. Martha Ryan (Aontu) – 187 – ELIMINATED after 3rd count
  19. Jason Phelan (Sinn Fein) – 124 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count
  20. John Cowhig (Independent) – 49 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count

11th count – Distribution of Dom Dunne votes (542)

Tommy Mulligan is just 15 short and John Joe Fennelly in 34. Good chance they will be elected next.

Pauline Flanagan now excluded and her votes will be redistributed.

QUOTA – 1,460

  1. Willie Aird (Fine Gael) – 1,460 – ELECTED on the 1st count
  2. Caroline Dwane-Stanley (Sinn Fein) – 1,460 – ELECTED on the 3rd count
  3. Tommy Mulligan (Independent) – 1,445 (+106)
  4. John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fail) – 1,426 (+28)
  5. Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail) – 1,223 (+42)
  6. Barry Walsh (Fine Gael) – 1,042 (+38)
  7. Marie Tuohy (Labour) – 899 (+49)
  8. Naeem Iqbal (Fianna Fail) – 721 (+10)
  9. Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael) – 712 (+31)
  10. Pauline Flanagan (Independent) – 677 (+107) – ELIMINATED after the 11th count
  11. Dom Dunne (Independent) – 542 (+34) – ELIMINATED after the 10th count
  12. Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein) – 418 – ELIMINATED after the 9th count
  13. Bolaji Adeyanju (Independent) – 385 – ELIMINATED after the 8th count
  14. Colette Byrne (Independent Ireland) – 352 – ELIMINATED after the 7th count
  15. Rosie Palmer (Green Party) – 313 – ELIMINATED after the 6th count
  16. Noel Burke (Independent) – 290 – ELIMINATED after the 5th count
  17. Donal Kelly (Independent) – 258 – ELIMINATED after the 4th count
  18. Martha Ryan (Aontu) – 187 – ELIMINATED after 3rd count
  19. Jason Phelan (Sinn Fein) – 124 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count
  20. John Cowhig (Independent) – 49 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count

12th count – Distribution of Pauline Flanagan votes (677)

Tommy Mulligan (IND) becomes the third person elected in the Portlaoise area. A fantastic achievement for the first time candidate.

His surplus of 183 will now be distributed.

QUOTA – 1,460

  1. Willie Aird (Fine Gael) – 1,460 – ELECTED on the 1st count
  2. Caroline Dwane-Stanley (Sinn Fein) – 1,460 – ELECTED on the 3rd count
  3. Tommy Mulligan (Independent) – 1,634 (+189) – ELECTED on the 12th count
  4. John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fail) – 1,464 (+22)
  5. Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail) – 1,223 (+86)
  6. Barry Walsh (Fine Gael) – 1,064 (+22)
  7. Marie Tuohy (Labour) – 1,003 (+104)
  8. Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael) – 762 (+50)
  9. Naeem Iqbal (Fianna Fail) – 752 (+31)
  10. Pauline Flanagan (Independent) – 677 – ELIMINATED after the 11th count
  11. Dom Dunne (Independent) – 542 – ELIMINATED after the 10th count
  12. Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein) – 418 – ELIMINATED after the 9th count
  13. Bolaji Adeyanju (Independent) – 385 – ELIMINATED after the 8th count
  14. Colette Byrne (Independent Ireland) – 352 – ELIMINATED after the 7th count
  15. Rosie Palmer (Green Party) – 313 – ELIMINATED after the 6th count
  16. Noel Burke (Independent) – 290 – ELIMINATED after the 5th count
  17. Donal Kelly (Independent) – 258 – ELIMINATED after the 4th count
  18. Martha Ryan (Aontu) – 187 – ELIMINATED after 3rd count
  19. Jason Phelan (Sinn Fein) – 124 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count
  20. John Cowhig (Independent) – 49 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count

13th count – distribution of Tommy Mulligan (Independent) surplus (183)

Nobody has been elected again. John Joe Fennelly is just 14 votes away. Naeem Iqbal has now been eliminated and his 765 votes will be redistributed.

Thomasina Connell trails Marie Tuohy by 260 votes. She needs to get at least that much more of Iqbal’s votes than Tuohy or else Tuohy, Fennelly, Catherine Fitzgerald and Barry Walsh will all be elected

QUOTA – 1,460

  1. Willie Aird (Fine Gael) – 1,460 – ELECTED on the 1st count
  2. Caroline Dwane-Stanley (Sinn Fein) – 1,460 – ELECTED on the 3rd count
  3. Tommy Mulligan (Independent) – 1,634 (+189) – ELECTED on the 12th count
  4. John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fail) – 1,446 (+6)
  5. Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail) – 1,324 (+15)
  6. Barry Walsh (Fine Gael) – 1,064 (+11)
  7. Marie Tuohy (Labour) – 1,042 (+39)
  8. Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael) – 782 (+20)
  9. Naeem Iqbal (Fianna Fail) – 765 (+13) – ELIMINATED after the 13th count
  10. Pauline Flanagan (Independent) – 677 – ELIMINATED after the 11th count
  11. Dom Dunne (Independent) – 542 – ELIMINATED after the 10th count
  12. Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein) – 418 – ELIMINATED after the 9th count
  13. Bolaji Adeyanju (Independent) – 385 – ELIMINATED after the 8th count
  14. Colette Byrne (Independent Ireland) – 352 – ELIMINATED after the 7th count
  15. Rosie Palmer (Green Party) – 313 – ELIMINATED after the 6th count
  16. Noel Burke (Independent) – 290 – ELIMINATED after the 5th count
  17. Donal Kelly (Independent) – 258 – ELIMINATED after the 4th count
  18. Martha Ryan (Aontu) – 187 – ELIMINATED after 3rd count
  19. Jason Phelan (Sinn Fein) – 124 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count
  20. John Cowhig (Independent) – 49 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count

14th count – distribution of Naeem Iqbal (Fianna Fail) votes (765)

And that is that. After the distribution of Naeem Iqbal’s votes, it carries his Fianna Fail colleagues John Joe Fennelly and Catherine Fitzgerald past the quota and they are deemed elected.

Fennelly and Fitzgerald now have a small surplus each but it wouldn’t be enough to get Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael) past the the next lowest candidate – her colleague Barry Walsh – and she is eliminated and Walsh and Marie Tuohy (Labour) are deemed elected without reaching the quota.

With four candidates elected at the same time, it leads to great scenes of celebrations, including a rousing rendition of ‘The Skies oer Ballyroan’ by Barry Walsh’s large group of supporters.

So, after three full days, and 14 counts to elect seven councillors from 20 candidates, the job is complete!

The full list of elected candidates so is: Willie Aird (Fine Gael), Caroline Dwane-Stanley (Sinn Fein), Tommy Mulligan (Independent), John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fail), Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail), Marie Tuohy (Labour), Barry Walsh (Fine Gael).

QUOTA – 1,460

  1. Willie Aird (Fine Gael) – 1,460 – ELECTED on the 1st count
  2. Caroline Dwane-Stanley (Sinn Fein) – 1,460 – ELECTED on the 3rd count
  3. Tommy Mulligan (Independent) – 1,634 (+189) – ELECTED on the 12th count
  4. John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fail) – 1,521 (+75) – ELECTED on the 14th count
  5. Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail) – 1,489 (+165) – ELECTED on the 14th count
  6. Marie Tuohy (Labour) – 1,119 (+77) – ELECTED on the 14h count without reaching the quota
  7. Barry Walsh (Fine Gael) – 1,101 (+26) ELECTED on the 14th count without reaching the quota
  8. Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael) – 884 (+102)
  9. Naeem Iqbal (Fianna Fail) – 765 – ELIMINATED after the 13th count
  10. Pauline Flanagan (Independent) – 677 – ELIMINATED after the 11th count
  11. Dom Dunne (Independent) – 542 – ELIMINATED after the 10th count
  12. Maria McCormack (Sinn Fein) – 418 – ELIMINATED after the 9th count
  13. Bolaji Adeyanju (Independent) – 385 – ELIMINATED after the 8th count
  14. Colette Byrne (Independent Ireland) – 352 – ELIMINATED after the 7th count
  15. Rosie Palmer (Green Party) – 313 – ELIMINATED after the 6th count
  16. Noel Burke (Independent) – 290 – ELIMINATED after the 5th count
  17. Donal Kelly (Independent) – 258 – ELIMINATED after the 4th count
  18. Martha Ryan (Aontu) – 187 – ELIMINATED after 3rd count
  19. Jason Phelan (Sinn Fein) – 124 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count
  20. John Cowhig (Independent) – 49 – ELIMINATED after 2nd count

SEE ALSO – Story of the count: How Graiguecullen-Portarlington is unfolding

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