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Local Elections: Donegal County Council results
Ninety-one candidates are standing for election to the 37 seats on Donegal County Council. Each seat will be hard won in the five municipal districts of Letterkenny/Milford, Inishowen, Donegal, Glenties and Lifford/Stranolar.
With 18 names going forward, Sinn Féin is running the largest number of candidates ahead of Fianna Fáil (15), Fine Gael (nine) and Aontú (six). The Green Party and Labour have three candidates each, the newly formed Irish People Party has four and there are a total of 27 Independents seeking election.
The 100% Redress Party, born out of the defective blocks controversy, is running six candidates. It will be interesting to see how popular it proves among the thousands of Donegal homeowners affected by the issue, which candidates say has been a hot topic on the campaign trail, especially in Inishowen.
Other matters being raised with candidates include a shortage of affordable housing for rent or to buy and health issues, including waiting times for patients seeking to be seen at Letterkenny University Hospital.
Nineteen women are seeking election, with Cllr Niamh Kennedy the only current councillor doing so following the death of Cllr Noreen McGarvey and decisions by Marie Theresa Gallagher and Rena Donaghey not to stand again.