Live: First councillor elected in county Cork

9.12PM

Kanturk LEA:

Electorate: 21,479 Votes Cast: 11,522 Spoiled Votes: 104 Valid Poll: 11,418 Quota: 2,284 

 Ted Bradley (Green Party) – 154 

Finnbarr Cronin (Ind) – 509 

Ian Doyle (FF) – 1,200 

Becky Kealy (Aontu) – 953 

Bernard Moynihan (FF) – 3,030 

Trish Murphy (FG) – 2,037 

Brendan O’Connor (Ind Ire) – 398 

Evelyn O’Keeffe (SF) – 536 

John Paul O’Shea (FG) – 2,185 

Andrew Ring (Soc Dems) – 416 

As Bernard Moynihan exceeded the quota he is elected and retains his seat.

His surplus of 746 votes are now being distributed.

9.10PM – John O’Sullivan, Sinn Féin, Macroom

8.45PM – ADJUDICATION UNDERWAY IN MALLOW

THE adjudication process has begun at the Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services (CDYS) Centre in Mallow sorting spoiled ballot papers for the Cork County Council local elections.

Candidates were called on stage to contest any contentious votes, with the first count expected shortly after this process has been completed.

8.22PM – COUNTY HALL TALLIES

THE votes cast in the Macroom Municipal District had just begun to be counted around 7.10pm but the comprehensive tallies early in the day meant that the tension you’d expect at a count centre was absent even before the results of the first count would be declared.

It’s been far from a relaxing campaign, however, for the candidates and Municipal District Council chairman, Ted Lucey of Fine Gael, admitted that the canvass hadn’t all been smooth sailing.

“The reception was good – we didn’t seem to meet the anger there we had five years ago, people seemed to be much happier,” he said. “No doubt we got a bit of a scolding on the doors but, overall, it was very acceptable.

The councillor identified the N22 between Macroom and Cork and the back road between Crookstown and Killumney as the main issues raised with him on the doors where he was canvassing, mainly east of the town.

He also said he and the other Fine Gael candidates, Michael Creed and Eileen Lynch, had reason to be thankful that the area had been the beneficiary of major investment during the last term due, he pointed out, the presence of a Minister, Michael Creed TD in the constituency and the investment that came to the area during his time at the Cabinet table.

The Fianna Fáil councillor, Michael Looney, who also had an impressive showing in the tally, was delighted with his showing. “It’s a great day for me and it’s a great day for Fianna Fáil in Macroom because it looks like Gobnait Moynihan will top the poll and Michael Creed will be second and I will come in third,” he said.

“A lot of work has been put in and it looks like it’s all paying off now.” 

Five of the six sitting councillors seemed assured of retaining their seats, based on the early tally. These are – Michael Creed (2555), Ted Lucey (2025) and Eileen Lynch (2330) of Fine Gael as well as Michael Looney (2484) and Gobnait Moynihan (2746) of Fianna Fáil.

There looks like there will be a battle for the sixth seat as Martin Coughlan, the incumbent independent councillor, faces off with Dermot Kelleher, the first time Independent Ireland candidate. According to the tally Martin Coughlan has an edge, 1445 votes, against Dermot Kelleher’s total of 1300 votes.

“Looking at the canvass and who might be eliminated, it might come in my favour,” said Martin Coughlan, who admitted that his vote was down on his showing in 2019.

For Dermot Kelleher, who decided to stand for Independent Ireland because of a long standing friendship with that party’s leader, Michael Collins, was widowed last year and was happy with his showing first time out. The canvass had gone well but, as he said himself, half those he had canvassed hadn’t voted. This was a reference to the turnout of little more than more 50%.

He was in good form after the canvass. “I remember an old man telling me one time that one half of the people may be lying to you while the other half may not be telling you the truth.” Regarding the battle between himself and Martin Coughlan for the last seat: “It’s all up in the air,” he said.