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Elections 2024: Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan tops poll, Nina Carberry outpolls Maria Walsh and Mick Wallace faces battle for seat

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Elections 2024: Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan tops poll, Nina Carberry outpolls Maria Walsh and Mick Wallace faces battle for seat

European Elections – Ireland South: MEP Sean Kelly tops the poll

Fine Gael’s Sean Kelly has topped the poll in the Ireland South constituency with 122,777 votes, surpassing the quota of 114,761. He has won his fourth time as an MEP, having been first elected in 2009.
The former GAA president celebrated the news with family in the Nemo Rangers GAA Club count centre, where he was also on grandfather duty.
Outgoing Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher is also set to be returned to the European Parliament with a first preference vote of 91,074.

He is expected to be elected after several counts tomorrow.

Clare-based Independent Michael McNamara is poised to clinch a Euro berth after a strong first count of 56,339 votes.

The final two seats are expected to be decided in a tight battle between five candidates.

Mr Kelleher will be elected on transfers over the early counts – with a remarkable aspect of the Ireland South count being the heavy level of transfers between the top Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil candidates.

Political analysts said it was “extraordinary” that Mr Kelly and Mr Kelleher were, in certain ballot boxes, transferring better to each other than to their running mates.

“Fianna Fáil will remain as the largest party of local government” – director of elections Jack Chambers

It comes as Fianna Fáil edges ahead of Fine Gael in the race to be the largest party local government.
Fianna Fáil Director of Elections Jack Chambers said he is confident the party will remain the largest in local government when all the votes are counted.
Fine Gael said earlier today it had the largest number of first preference votes in the local elections. 

“As Director of Elections, I have been reviewing the counts and seat numbers all day and I now have growing confidence that Fianna Fáil will remain as the largest party of local government when all the votes are counted and the full democratic process has concluded,” said Minister Chambers. 

“We are in a really strong position as the final seats are declared.”

IRELAND SOUTH

Electorate – 1,345,792

 

Total Poll – 713,323

 

Spoiled Votes – 24,759

 

Valid Poll – 688,564

 

Quota – 114,761

 

Seats – Five

 

CANDIDATES – FIRST COUNT:

 

Blighe, Derek (Ind) – 25,071

 

Bogue, Lorna (Rabharta) – 8,788

 

De Barra, Graham (Ind) – 4,575

 

Doyle, Christopher (Ind) – 3,530

 

Doyle, Susan (SD) – 20,229

 

Fitzgibbon, Mary (Ind) – 6,281

 

Funchion, Kathleen (SF) – 50,580

 

Gavan, Paul (SF) – 22,392

 

Hourigan, Niamh (Labour) – 21,272 

 

Kelleher, Billy (FF) – 91,074

 

Kelly, Sean (FG) – 122,777

 

Lahive, Ross (Ind/IPP) – 4,461

 

Leahy, Michael (Ind/IFP) – 12,259

 

McGurk, Una (Ind) – 6,387

 

McNamara, Michael (Ind) – 56,339 

 

Mullins, John (FG) – 35,281

 

Murphy, Patrick (Aontu) – 14,124

 

Ní Mhurchú, Cynthia (FF) – 55,209

 

O’Riordan, Ciaran (Ind) – 2,477

 

O’Sullivan, Grace (Green) – 47,661

 

Prendiville, Cian (PBP) – 6,243

 

Punch, Eddie (Ind) – 20,751

 

Wallace, Mick (Ind) – 52,803


Ralph Riegel

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