Local elections 2024 – Mayo: ‘It has taken over 100 years to have a woman elected in Claremorris…the glass ceiling has been shattered’

Sixteen out of the 30 seats on Mayo County Council have been filled with history being made in Claremorris with the first female Councillor elected, Fine Gael’s Alma Gallagher

“The Claremorris electoral glass ceiling has finally been shattered and I’m honoured that so many men and women saw fit to vote for me to represent them,” Ms Gallagher said.

“It has taken over 100 years of local elections to have a woman elected here. It shouldn’t have taken that long, but I know the responsibility that comes with this immense privilege.

“I hope we will see many more women elected across the county and country today and in the future and I will do my utmost to show why having more diverse voices matters for the people of this area.”

Aontú also elected their first councillor in Mayo with Paul Lawless taking the fifth seat in the six seat Claremorris area.

The first count in Claremorris saw incumbent Independent Councillor Patsy O’Brien return a seismic first preferences vote of 2739- 785 over the quota.

When asked how he intended to celebrate his spectacular performance Patsy O’Brien put his arm around his wife and said, “Win or lose we would have been celebrating the same way. We’re fairly quiet people and we’re heading home. But we are happy.”

After a brutal and agonising 14 counts for the Castlebar area Harry Barrett (Ind) took the last seat in a stunning switch of fortunes.

The national schoolteacher previously served as a Labour councillor on Castlebar Town Council as both as a Labour candidate and an Independent but struggled to find a seat on Mayo County Council.

Barrett received 743 first preference votes and it looked bleak but his fortunes turned when transfers which eventually took him ahead of Martin McLoughlin (FF), Donna Sheridan (FG) and Stephen Kerr (Ind) and he was elected on the 13 count.

Sitting councillor Martin McLoughlin (FF) lost his seat while Donna Sheridan (FG) beat back a strong challenge of Independent Stephen Kerr to take the seventh and final seat.

Independent Michael Kilcoyne topped the poll in Castlebar and was followed closely by Fine Gael’s Ger Deere who were both elected on the first count after they both exceeded the quota of 1,878. Kilcoyne topped the poll with 2,405 with Derre taking 1,958.

During the night veteran councillor Al McDonnell was re-elected as was party colleague, Blackie Gavin and Fine Gael’s Cyril Burke.

The Belmullet count began on this morning (SUN) and saw the three incumbent councillors re-elected Sean Carey (FF), Gerry Coyle FG and Paul McNamara(FF)