Local elections 2024 Donegal: Independent candidate looks set to top poll in Milford as third seat hotly contested

5pm..

Nine candidates are contesting the three-seat LEA which forms part of the Letterkeny-Milford municipal district.

Sitting councillors John O’Donnell, Kilmacrennan (non-party), Liam Blaney (Fianna Fáil) and Pauric McGarvey (non-party) are seeking reelection.

Tallies:

Declan Meehan, Ramelton, non-party; 21%, 1,712

Liam Blaney, Tamney, Fianna Fáil; 18.8%, 1,534

Pauric McGarvey, Rathmullan; non-party; 16.9%, 1,378

John O’Donnell, Kilmacrennan, non-party; 16.3%, 1,327

Maria Doherty, Carrigart, Sinn Féin; 11.3%, 918

Éamonn Jackson, Glenkeen, Milford, 100% Redress; 6.1%, 499

Aaron Sweeney, Cranford, Fine Gael; 6.1%, 497

Vincent J Bradley, Carrigart, non-party; 1.8%, 143

Kathleen Deeney, Rathmullan, Aontú 1.6%, 131

4.20pm..

Donegal County Council – European tallies

In the tallies available in the European elections, it is showing an electorate of 29,889.

The tallies are limited, but the information available suggests that Aontú have received 1,493 votes, Fianna Fáil 6,921, Fine Gael 3,048, Sinn Fein 6,028, Luke Ming Flanaghan 5,773, Ciaran Mullooly 455 and Others 6,171.

The tallies suggest that Milford native Senator Niall Blaney polled well in Milford with Fianna Fáil taking 49% and 27% in Letterkenny.

4pm..

The tallies from Milford are indicating that Fianna Fáil Councillor Liam Blaney is on track to keep his seat but Independent candidate Declan Meehan is hot on his heels with the tally suggesting he is following closely behind.

Independent Cllr Pauric McGarvey is coming in third, while Cllr John O’Donnell is also in the running.

There are three seats to be won in the Milford LEA.

3.30pm…

Tally results from Letterkenny

1 – Donal Mandy Kelly, Fianna Fáil, 14 per cent, 1,791 votes 2 – Ciaran Brogan, Fianna Fáil, 10.8 percent, 1,381 votes

3 – Tomás Seán Devine, 100% Redress, 9.8 percent, 1,259 votes

4 – Jimmy Kavanagh, Fine Gael, 9.5, 1,222 votes

5 – Michael McBride, non-party, 8.5 percent, 1,088 votes 6 – Gerry McMonagle, Sinn Féin, 7.4 percent, 952 votes 7 – Donal Coyle, Fianna Fáil, 7.4 percent, 948 votes 8 – Mary T Sweeney, Aontú, 5.9 percent, 760 votes

9 – Declan Jordan, non-party; 4.9 percent, 626 votes 10 – Kevin Bradley, Independent, 5.6 per cent, 717 votes

11 – Sandra Haughey, Sinn Féin, 4.7 per cent, 605 votes

12 – Thoiba Ahmed, non-party; 3.4 percent 433 votes

13 – Ulick Hughes, Sinn Féin, 2.7 percent, 348 votes

14 – Michael McLaughlin, The Labour Party, 1.8 per cent, 229 votes

15 – Nuala Carr, Green Party; 1.4 percent, 175 votes

16 – Anne McCloskey, The Irish People; 1.1 per cent, 144 votes

17 – Vincent J Bradley, non-party; 0.8 per cent, 108 votes

18 – Selina O’Donnell, non-party, 0.2 percent, 32 votes

3pm…

Fianna Fail looks set to secure two seats in the Letterkenny LEA as tallies indicate that Cllr Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly and Cllr Ciaran Brogan will retain their seats.

The recent figures suggest that the 100% Redress Party candidate Tomas Devine is polling well in third place followed by Fine Gael Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh and Independent Cllr Michael McBride.

Sinn Féin’s Gerry McMonagle and Fianna Fail Donal Coyle are also in the running for a seat in sixth and seventh place, respectively.

1.30pm…

Tallies from the Buncrana boxes

Quota – 1,396

Five seats

1 – Jack Murray, Sinn Fein, 24.6 per cent, 2060 votes 2 – Joy Beard, 100% Redress, 17.3 per cent, 1,047 votes 3 – Paul Canning, Fianna Fáil, 14.6 per cent, 1,221 votes 4 – Terry Crossan, Sinn Fein, 10.2 per cent, 855 votes 5 – Fionan Bradley, Fianna Fáil, 9.3 per cent, 780 votes 6 – Kim McMenamin, the Irish People Party, 6.2 per cent, 516 votes 7 – Niamh McGuinness, Sinn Féin, 5.5 per cent, 464 votes 8 – Adrian McMyler, Independent, 3-2 per cent, 265 votes 9 – Liam Mulligan, Letterkenny, Aontú, 1.7 per cent, 146 votes 10 – Eamon McGee, non-party, 1 per cent, 85 votes 11 – Jason Le Masurier, Buncrana, Green Party, 1 per cent, 82 votes

12.30pm..

The boxes from Cardonagh are currently being sorted at the Donegal County Centre.

According to the latest tallies, 100% Redress Party candidate Ali Farren is leading the way, slightly ahead of Fianna Fáil Cllr Martin McDermott – it remains a tight race between the pair.

Currently sitting at third is Sinn Féin Cllr Albert Doherty with Labour Party Cllr Martin Farren and Fine Gael Cllr Johnny McGuinness.

There are four seats available in Carndonagh.

Tallies:

Ali Farren (100%) – 2,223

Michael White (GP) – 60

Martin Farren (Labour)* – 991

Toni Devine (SF) – 261

Albert Doherty (SF)* – 1,001

Johnny McGuinness (FG)* – 736

Martin McDermott (FF)* – 2,050

Paul B McKinney (Ind) – 383

Donal McKinney (TIP) – 168

11:30am..

The Buncrana boxes were opened first here this morning and early tallies indicate that Sinn Féin Cllr Jack Murray is on course to retain his seat.

100% Redress party candidate Joy Beard is also polling well.

Sinn Féin’s Terry Crossan is currently coming in third followed by his party colleague Fionnan Bradley.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Paul Canning is sitting at fifth, with Independent Kim McMenamin in sixth.

There are fives seats up for grabs and the official count doesn’t begin until tomorrow.

9am..

The sorting of ballot papers is now underway in the local elections at the Donegal count Centre as 91 candidates await their fate.

The voting concluded at 10pm last night.

The candidates and their tally teams have assembled at the Aura Leisure Centre for the count as they face a gruelling wait for the results.

The sorting of votes will take place this morning before the counting of votes begin later.

Results of tallies are expected later this morning.

We will have all the updates from the Donegal local election count as it happens here on this page.