Local elections 2024 Donegal: Shock as recount called in Letterkenny LEA

A recount has been called in the Letterkenny LEA.

The request was made by Aontu candidate Mary T Sweeney and has been approved by Returning Officer Seamus Canning.

The count has been neck in neck throughout the day and the recount was called on the 11th count.

The recount will be held at 10am on Monday.

Prior to this, Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly, Tomas Sean Devine and Gerry McMonagle had been elected.

12.50am

It’s all over in Donegal Town as the final four seats have been filed on count 11.

Jimmy Brogan (IND) and Niamh Kennedy (IND) were elected by exceeding the quota while Manus Boyle (FG) and Michael McMahon (SF) filled the final two seats.

12.20am

A fourth 100% Redress Party Candidate has been elected in Donegal as Tomás Seán Devine has claimed a seat in Letterkenny.

The newcomer was tipped for election from earlier on Sunday and was finally elected in the tenth count.

Sinn Fein’s sitting councillor Gerry McMonagle was also elected on the tenth count, securing his seat for another five years.

12am

The 100% Redress Party has had its third candidate elected in Donegal.

Denis McGee was elected in the 10th count in Glenties.

Also elected in the tenth count and taking the remaining seats was sitting councillors John Shéamais Ó Fearraigh (SF) and Brian Carr (SF).

The six seats in Glenties are now filled.

11.30pm

Sitting Councillor Noel Jordan (SF) has retained his seat in the Donegal LEA.

Cllr Jordan was elected on the tenth count.

10.30pm

Sitting Councillor Anthony Molloy has retained his seat in Glenties.

The Fianna Fail councillor was elected on the eighth count.

10.15pm

A councillor has finally been elected in the Donegal LEA.

Michéal Naughton (FF) has topped the poll in the area and was elected in the eighth count.

Five seats remain in the area.

10.05pm

Sitting Labour Councillor Martin Farren has been elected to the final seat of the Cardonagh LEA.

In an incredibly tight race, Cllr Farren claimed the seat ahead of sitting councillor Johnny McGuinness.

Mr McGuinness was co-opted onto the Council in 2022 following the death of his father Bernard McGuinness.

The Fine Gael seat was held for over 40 years by his father.

10pm

Newcomer Fionan Bradley has won a seat in the Buncrana LEA.

The Fianna Fail man was elected on the eighth count along with sitting councillors Paul Canning (FF) and Terry Crossan (SF) to fill the remaining three seats in the Buncrana area.

9.45pm

Cllr Albert Doherty (SF) has retained his seat in Carndonagh.

He was elected on the sixth count.

9.20pm

New female councillor Dakota Nic Mheanman (SF) has been elected to the Lifford and Stranorlar LEA.

She was elected in the eighth count along with returning councillor Patrick McGowan (FF).

All six seats in the Lifford/Stranolar LEA are now filled.

8.50pm

Frank McBrearty and Martin Harley have been returned to their seats on Donegal County Council.

McBrearty (Ind) gained 445 transfers following the distribution of Niall McConnell’s 1,127 votes to bring his total to 1,939.

Harley received another 62 to take him to 1,638, surpassing the quota by just nine votes.

8.30pm

Constituency Donegal

First Count

Electorate 24,597

Total Poll 13,997

Spoiled/invalid votes 108

Total valid poll 13,889

Quota 1,985

Number of seats 6

Manus Boyle(FG) 1,247

Linda Boyle (SF) 462

PatrickBrogan (Aontú) 280

Jimmy Brogan (Ind) 1,356

Diarmaid Doherty (Ind) 498

Martin Hegarty (FF)776

Noel Andrew Jordan (SF) 1,580

Claudia Kennedy (FF)301

Niamh Kennedy (Ind) 1,102

Pauric Kennedy (Ind)1,324

Michael McMahon (SF) 1,484

John Molloy (TIP) 140

Michéal Naughton (FF) 1,847

Barry Sweeny (FG) 1,281

Derek Vial (Ind) 184

7.45pm

It’s a proud day for Cllr Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly as he topped the poll in the Letterkenny LEA.

The Glenswilly man was elected in the first count having received a total of 1,841 votes which surpassed the 1,629 quota by 212 votes.

Kelly took over the role of councillor from his father, Donal Snr, in 2020 following his resignation.

His brother Manus Kelly originally won the seat in the May 2019 elections just weeks before his tragic death in the Donegal International Rally.

Letterkenny LEA first count

Electorate: 25,643

Total Poll: 13,175

Invalid: 146

Valid: 13,029

Quota: 1,629

Elected: Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly

• Thoiba Ahmed (Non-Party) – 440
• Kevin Bradley (Non-Party) – 734
• Vincent J Bradley (Non-Party) – 95
• Ciaran Brogan (Fianna Fail) – 1,407
• Nuala Carr (Green Party/Comhaontas Glas) – 176
• Donal Coyle (Fianna Fail) – 950
• Tomás Seán Devine (100% Redress) – 1,289
• Sandra Haughey (Sinn Fein) – 619
• Ulick Hughes (Sinn Fein) – 345
• Declan Jordan (Non-Party) – 621
• Jimmy Kavanagh (Fine Gael) – 1,248
• Donal Mandy Kelly (Fianna Fail) – 1,841
• Michael McBride (Non-Party) – 1,101
• Anne McCloskey (Irish People) – 150
• Michael McLaughlin (Labour) – 226
• Gerry McMonagle (Sinn Fein) – 972
• Selina O Donnell (Non-Party) – 30
• Mary T Sweeney (Aontu) – 785

7.15pm

Independent Candidate and newcomer Martin Scanlon has topped the poll in Lifford/Stranorlar.

He was elected on the fifth count this evening.

He provided a shock yesterday when it was announced that he was leading the tally poll in the highly contested area.

Also elected in the fifth count was Sinn Fein’s Gary Doherty – the sitting councillor has retained his seat in the chamber.

7pm

Sitting Councillors Liam Blaney (Fianna Fáil) and Pauric McGarvey (Non-Party) have filled the two remaining seats in Milford.

The pair were elected in the fifth count.

It was a tight race for the third seat between McGarvey and sitting councillor John O’Donnell who lost his seat in the hotly contested area.

Mr O’Donnell earlier confessed that he did not see himself being re-elected and admitted defeat.

6.30pm

Independent candidate Declan Meehan has been elected in the fourth count of the Milford LEA.

The Independent candidate was leading the way since early on Saturday.

He said his work in the community has helped him gain the support he needed to get over the line.

The Milford count is proving a tight battle with sitting councillor John O’Donnell set to miss out on his seat. Sitting Councillors Liam Blaney and Pauric McGarvey look set to claim the remaining two seats.

Eliminated: Maria Doherty (Count 4)

Vincent Bradley (Non-Party) (Count 1)

Kathleen Deeney (Aontú) (Count 1)

Aaron Sweeney (FG) (Count 2)

6.15pm

Milford

1st count

Electorate: 13,178

Total Poll: 8,309

Invalid: 79

Valid: 8,230

Quota: 2,058

No candidate reached the quota of 2,058 in the first count.

Declan Meehan (Ind) 1,739

Liam Blaney (FF) 1,563

Pauric McGarvey (Ind)1,391

John O’Donnell (Ind) 1,324

Kathleen Deeney (Aontu) 132

Vincent J Bradley (Ind) 145

Eamonn Jackson (100%) 502

Aaron Sweeney (FG) 500

Maria Doherty (SF) 934

5.45pm

Glenties

Second count

Eliminated: Anthony Matthew Doohan (IND)

Ann Sweeney (IND)

No candidate elected in second count.

5.30pm

Lifford Stranorlar candidate Garvan Connolly (FG) has been eliminated after Count two while Sinn Fein’s Tony McDaid was eliminated in count three.

No candidate has been elected in the area yet.

5pm

No candidate has been elected in the Lifford/Stranorlar first count.

Rebecca McDaid (Aontu) has been eliminated.

Electorate 21,903

Total Poll: 11,533

Invalid: 133

Valid: 11,400

Quota 1,629

Number of seats 6

No one elected on first count.

Eliminated – Rebecca McDaid

Garvan Connolly (FG) 533

Gerry Crawford (FF) 990

Gary Doherty (SF) 1,193

Martin Harley (FG) 1,261

Frank McBrearty (Ind) 1,199

Niall McConnell (ind) 971

Rebecca McDaid (Aontú) 434

Tony McDaid (SF) 625

Patrick McGowan (FF) 1,171

Dakota McMenamin (SF) 839

Martin Scanlon (Ind) 1,410

Charles Ward (100%) 880

4.45pm

Independent Cllr Michael Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig has topped the poll in Glenties.

The sitting councillor received 2,125 votes to top the poll and be elected on the first count.

He was closely followed by another sitting councillor, Independent Michael McClafferty who was also elected on the first count.

He received 1,885 votes.

Glenties First Count

Elected: Michael Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig (Ind)

Michael McClafferty (Ind)

Electorate 24,479

Total Poll 13,297

Invalid 123

Total Valid Poll 13,174

Quota 1,883

Number of seats 6

Brian Carr (SF) 1,021

Anthony Matthew Doohan (Ind) 106

Jimmy Duffy (Labour) 287

Michael Harkin (Aontú) 461

Michael Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig (Ind) 2,125

Michael McClafferty (Ind) 1,885

Denis McGee (100%) 889

Anthony Molloy (Ind) 1,409

Joseph Molloy (FG) 751

Kevin O’Donnell (Ind) 581

John Shéamuis Ó’Fearraigh (SF) 970

John Reilly (FF) 652

Anne Marie Rodgers (FF) 369

Kellie Rodgers (SF) 798

Jonathon Stewart (Ind) 794

Ann Sweeney (Ind) 76

4pm Sinn Féin’s Jack Murray has topped the poll in Buncrana, closely followed by 100% Redress Party candidate Joy Beard.

Both Councillors were elected on the first count.

Jack Murray, who is a sitting councillor, topped the poll with 2,248 votes.

Joy Beard received 1,587 votes.

Buncrana LEA

First Count

Elected: Jack Murray (SF)

Joy Beard (100%)

Electorate 17,578

Total Poll 9,198

Spoiled/invalid votes 141

Total valid poll 9,057

Quota 1,510

Number of seats 5

Joy Beard (100%) 1,587

Fionan Bradley (FF) 847

Paul Canning (FF) 1,267

Terry Crosssan (SF) 973

Jason Le Masurier (GP) 89

Eamon McGee (Ind) 90

Niamh McGuinness (SF) 480

Peter McLaughlin (FG) 499

Kim McMenamin (TIP) 567

Adrian McMyler (Ind) 251

Liam Mulligan Aontú 159

Jack Murray (SF) 2,248

3.30pm

The 100% Redress Party have topped the poll in Carndonagh as newcomer Ali Farren has been elected in the first count.

Ali Farren topped the poll with 2,253 votes.

Also elected in the first count was sitting Fianna Fail councillor Martin McDermott.

Cllr McDermott received 2.069 votes.

Carndonagh 1st count

ELECTED: ALI FARREN 100% Redress Party

MARTIN MCDERMOTT Fianna Fail

Electorate 15,041

Total Poll 8,009

Spoiled/invalid votes 70

Total valid poll 7,939

Quota 1,588

Toni Devine (SF) 262

Albert Doherty (SF) 996

Martin Farren (Labour) 1,001

Ali Farren (100%) 2,253

Martin McDermott (FF) 2,069

Johnny McGuiness (FG) 736

Donal McKinney (TIP) 193

Paul B McKinney (Ind) 374

Michael White (GP) 55

9am

The counting of votes in County Donegal is taking place in five count centres across the county.

Following the tally results on Saturday, a number of sitting councillors look to be at risk of losing their seat, while the 100% Redress Group looks set to claim at least three seats.

The first result is expected early afternoon.

The segregation of votes was completed at the Donegal Count Centre at the Aura Leisure Centre on Saturday night.

9.15pm

One of the biggest shocks in the Donegal election tallies came from an Independent claiming the top of the poll in the hotly contested Lifford/ Stranorlar area.

In the final segregation of the evening, Martin Scanlon has topped the poll, with tallies indicating that the other five seats will be filled by sitting councillors.

However, it’s a tight competition.

In second place is sitting Fine Gael councillor Martin Harley while Independent Councillor Frank McBrearty is in third place.

Sinn Fein’s Gary Doherty is coming in at fourth, while Cllr Patrick McGowan is in fifth place.

Cllr Gerry Crawford is in line for the sixth seat.

Hot on his heels is 100% Redress Party Candidate Charles Ward and Independent Niall McConnell.

Tally for Lifford/Stranorlar

Quota 1,382

Martin Scanlon, non-party; 12.5 percent; 1,387 votes

Martin Harley, Fine Gael; 10.8 percent, 1,200 votes

Frank McBrearty, non-party; 10.7 percent, 1,188 votes

Gary Doherty, Sinn Féin; 10.4 percent, 1,151 votes

Patrick McGowan, Fianna Fáil; 10.2 percent, 1,125

Gerry Crawford, Fianna Fáil, 8.9 percent, 984 votes

Charles Ward, 100% Redress; 7.8 percent, 860 votes

Niall McConnell, non-party; 7.7 percent, 856 votes

Dakota Nic Mheanman, Sinn Féin; 7 percent, 780 votes

Tony McDaid, Sinn Féin; 5.6 percent, 615 votes

Garvan Connolly, Fine Gael; 4.6 percent, 509 votes

Rebecca McDaid, Aontú; 3.7 percent, 410 votes

8.30pm

The 100% redress party could be in line for a seat in Glenties as candidate Denis McGee has polled well in the area and is sitting in fifth place.

Tallies are indicating that Anthony Molloy and Cllr Michael Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig seats are safe in Glenties.

In third place is Michael McClafferty, while newcomer Sinn Féin Kellie Rodgers is in fourth position.

Sitting councillor John Sheamuis O’Farraigh is in line for the sixth seat, while newcomer John O’Reilly is close in seventh.

Tallies are indicating it is a very tight knit race which should make for an interesting day tomorrow.The 100% redress party could be in line for a seat in Glenties as candidate Denis McGee has polled well in the area and is sitting in fifth place.

Tallies are indicating that Anthony Molloy and Cllr Michael Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig seats are safe in Glenties.

In third place is Michael McClafferty, while newcomer Sinn Féin Kellie Rodgers is in fourth position.

Sitting councillor John Sheamuis O’Farraigh is in line for the sixth seat, while newcomer John O’Reilly is close in seventh.

Tallies are indicating it is a very tight knit race which should make for an interesting day tomorrow.

The tally for Glenties. A small number of votes from the islands are outstanding.

Quota: 1,867

Micheál Choilm MacGiolla Easbuig, Anagaire, Gan Pháirtí; 16.2%, 2,111

Michael McClafferty, Falcarragh, non-party; 14.6%, 1,902

Anthony Molloy, Ardara, Fianna Fáil; 10.7%, 1,400

Brian Carr, Glenties, Sinn Féin; 7.7%, 1,003

John Shéamais Ó Fearraigh, Brinalack PO, 7.4%, 968

Sinn Féin; Denis McGee, Gortahork, 100% Redress; 6.7%, 876

Kellie Rodgers, Kincasslagh, Sinn Féin; 6.1%, 796

Jonathan Stewart, Dungloe, non-party; 6%, 778

Joseph Molloy, Derrybeg, Fine Gael; 5.6%, 736

John Reilly, Burtonport, Fianna Fáil; 5%, 649

Kevin O’Donnell, Glenties, non-party; 4.3%, 568

Michael Harkin, Dunfanaghy, Aontú 3.5%, 462

Anne Marie Rodgers, Dunfanaghy, Fianna Fáil; 2.7%, 349

Jimmy Duffy, Carrickfinn, Kincasslagh, The Labour Party; 2.2%, 290

Anthony Matthew Doohan, Falcarragh, non-party; 0.8%, 102

Ann Sweeney, Dunfanaghy, non-party; .5%, 71

6.15pm

The latest round of tallies for Donegal revealed that sitting councillor Fine Gael Councillor Michael Naughton looks set to retain his seat in the south of the county.

Cllr Noel Jordan is in second position followed by Cllr Michael McMahon.

Newcomer Jimmy Brogan has polled well and is sitting in fourth, while Pauric Kennedy is in fifth – both Independents.

Manus Boyle of Fine Gael is in sixth ahead of sitting councillors Fine Gael’s Barry Sweeny and Independent Niamh Kennedy.

Fifteen candidates are seeking six seats.

Quota: 1,937

1 – Michéal Naughton, Laghey, Fianna Fáil, 13.4 percent, 1,817

2 – Noel Jordan, Sinn Féin; 11.3. Percent, 1,538 votes

3 – Michael McMahon, Bundoran, Sinn Féin; 10 percent, 1,358 votes

4 – Jimmy Brogan, non-party; 9.8 percent, 1,335 votes

5 – Pauric Kennedy, Donegal Town, non-party; 9.7 percent, 1,310 votes

6 – Manus Boyle, Fine Gael; 9.4 percent, 1,278 votes

7 – Barry Sweeny, Ballyshannon, Fine Gael; 9.4 percent, 1,270 votes

8 -Niamh Kennedy, Killybegs, non-party; 8.1 percent, 1,096

9 – Martin Hegarty, Fianna Fáil; 5.5 percent, 742 votes

10 -Diarmaid Doherty, non-party; 3.7 percent, 469 votes

11 – Linda Boyle, Kilcar, Sinn Féin, 3.3 percent, 441 votes

12 – Claudia Kennedy, Bundoran, Fianna Fáil; 2.1 percent, 286 votes

13 – Patrick Brogan, Aontú; 2 percent, 277 votes

14 – Derek Vial, Killybegs, non-party; 1.3 percent, 180 votes

15 – John Molloy, Bundoran, The Irish People; 1 percent, 131 votes

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

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.

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

1.30pm

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.

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

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.