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Elections 2024: Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan tops poll, Nina Carberry outpolls Maria Walsh and Mick Wallace faces battle for seat
![Elections 2024: Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan tops poll, Nina Carberry outpolls Maria Walsh and Mick Wallace faces battle for seat Elections 2024: Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan tops poll, Nina Carberry outpolls Maria Walsh and Mick Wallace faces battle for seat](https://focus.independent.ie/thumbor/TH6UIjiDf6uMKQr6UgigWWL3VsQ=/60x0:735x450/629x0/prod-mh-ireland/067380b1-40fd-4ed7-bc50-f48315e7b2a9/7837d98a-c10c-4ea9-bdb6-16ac2040a55d/video/video.jpg)
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.
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