Local elections 2024 – Galway City: 13 of 18 seats now filled as West count begins

Following the first count in West, Donal Lyons (Independent), known locally as the ‘King of Knocknacarra’, topped the poll in West for the sixth time while Clodagh Higgins (FG) is just 150 votes off the quota after two counts.

John Connolly (FF) and Peter Keane (FF) are in position to hold based on comprehensive cross party tallies.

Níall McNelis (Labour) and Niall Murphy (Green Party), both around 7.5pc, could have to battle it out for the final seat in a race for six between seven outgoing councillors.

Tallypeople are confident Mr McNelis will complete a Labour sweep and both Connolly and Keane will hold for Fianna Fáil, while Social Democrat councillor Alan Curran has moved across LEAs without issue.

West has been dubbed “the ward of death” here in Westside Community Centre with the unusual circumstance of more incumbents than there are seats to win.

Mr Curran was co-opted to a seat in East last year and looks like he will make the move to his native area of Salthill in West successfully after performing well in tallies.

The count for West will continue from 9.30am on Monday morning.

Celebrations underway after new councillors elected

Across the city, Fine Gael have gained one seat while Fianna Fáil have lost one thus far. The two biggest parties have held elsewhere and Labour are the big winners after picking up two seats. The Green Party have lost a seat and the Social Democrats have gained one.

Popular independents have topped the polls all across town, while East incumbent Noel Larkin, previously an independent, lost out after joining Independent Ireland.

Joining history maker Helen Ogbu (Labour), Galway city’s first ever African woman councillor, in the East LEA will be incumbents Alan Cheevers (FF), Declan McDonnell (Ind) and Terry O’Flaherty (Ind), and fellow newcomers Aisling Burke (SF) and Shane Keogh (FG).

In Central, John McDonagh (Labour), Eibhlín Seoighthe (SD) and Josie Forde (FF) took the final three seats on the 11th count with sitting councillor Martina O’Connor (Green Party) losing out.

Westside man Mike Cubbard (Ind) topped the poll for an unprecedented third time and sitting mayor Eddie Hoare (FG) was also elected with a big surplus which brought party colleague Frank Fahy home.

Mr Fahy held back tears as he was elected on the ninth count, solidifying the party’s stronghold in the centre of Galway city.

In a reflection of trends across the country, it was a poor showing for Sinn Féin. The party was particularly confident Mark Lohan would return to his seat in Central after losing out in 2019.

There was success in East for Ms Burke however, who took back the seat lost by Mairéad Farrell TD five years ago.

A recount in East, requested by sitting Fianna Fáil councillor Michael J Crowe, was conceded before its conclusion.