Western People Mayo Local Election 2024 Liveblog - Day Three
Paul O'Malley signing off the final Western People Local Election Liveblog. Thanks very much for joining me, Keith and Tom over the last couple of days.
30 seats have been filled on Mayo County Council and that brings things to an end here. The European Count will keep going over the next few days but for now, I'll say goodnight and good luck.
The 11th and final count has taken place in Ballina and has seen the elections of Joe Faughnan, Michael Loftus and Jarlath Munnelly. David Alexander is the man to miss out.
David Alexander (Fianna Fáil) - +113, 1,296
Joe Faughnan (Independent) - +94, 1,725
Michael Loftus (Fianna Fáil) - +52, 1,612
Jarlath Munnelly (Fine Gael) - +97, 1,402
Count 10 has come and gone. Una Morris has been eliminated and Count 11 should take us nicely around the bend with the finish line in sight.
David Alexander (Fianna Fáil) - +10, 1,183
Joe Faughnan (Independent) - +18, 1,631
Michael Loftus (Fianna Fáil) - +43, 1,560
Úna Morris (Sinn Féin) - +8, 795
Jarlath Munnelly (Fine Gael) - +36, 1,305
Morris has been eliminated.
1.34am
Annie May Reape has been elected for the seventh time following the ninth count in Ballina. She received a transfer of 207 votes from Hugh Rouse which sent her soaring past the quota.
Jarlath Munnelly, as predicted, is now 96 votes ahead of David Alexander after receiving 137 transfers from Rouse.
David Alexander (Fianna Fáil) - +50, 1,173
Joe Faughnan (Independent) - +60, 1,613
Michael Loftus (Fianna Fáil) - +51, 1,517
Úna Morris (Sinn Féin) - +22, 787
Jarlath Munnelly (Fine Gael) - +137, 1,269
Annie May Reape (Fianna Fáil) - +207, 1,956
Count 10 will see the distribution of Annie May Reape's surplus of 180 votes.
Count 8 is now complete in Ballina, distributing Joe Doocey's votes. Joe Faughnan has raced ahead of Michael Loftus and may be the fourth elected after Annie May Reape, who is now just 27 votes shy of the quota.
The big battle remains in Killala between David Alexander and Jarlath Munnelly for the final seat. Munnelly is just 9 votes ahead and may extend that lead with the distribution of Hugh Rouse's votes on the ninth count.
David Alexander (Fianna Fáil) - +19, 1,123
Joe Faughnan (Independent) - +193, 1,553
Michael Loftus (Fianna Fáil) - +31, 1,466
Úna Morris (Sinn Féin) - +46, 765
Jarlath Munnelly (Fine Gael) - +11, 1,132
Annie May Reape (Fianna Fáil) - +39, 1,749
Hugh Rouse (Fine Gael) - +31, 671
Rouse has been eliminated.
The Swinford recount is complete! Read more about who made it over the line here.
Paul O'Malley here again, the last man standing for the Western People here since Tom left around 8pm. I have had some interesting thoughts about the gargantuan Midlands North West ballot paper and the journey it may take you on!
Count 7 is just in for Ballina, the distribution of Willie Nolan's votes. Annie-May Reape has transferred really well once more and is now just 66 votes short of 1,776 quota.
David Alexander (Fianna Fáil) - +16, 1,104
Joe Doocey (Independent) - +41, 601
Joe Faughnan (Independent) - +60, 1,360
Michael Loftus (Fianna Fáil) - +26, 1,435
Úna Morris (Sinn Féin) - +21, 719
Jarlath Munnelly (Fine Gael) - +27, 1,121
Annie May Reape (Fianna Fáil) - +131, 1,710
Hugh Rouse (Fine Gael) - +63, 640
Joe Doocey has been eliminated.
Midlands North West came in a little while ago.
The quota is 113,325 and there is one Mayo-based candidate among the frontrunners.
Luke 'Ming' Flanagan (Ind) holds the lead with 78,214 votes. Barry Cowen (FF) is next with 73,908, Nina Carberry with 73,888 and Maria Walsh 71,476 polled well for Fine Gael while Ciaran Mullooly (Independent Ireland) leads the chasing pack with 57,297 votes.
Michelle Gildernew (SF) with 45,807, Lisa Chambers (FF) with 44,069 andPeader Toibin (Aontu) with 40,742 are also in the race as it stands.
Niall Blaney (FF) with 30,387 and Chris MacManus (SF) with 29,427 are perhaps too far off to contend but their transfers should benefit their party colleagues Chambers and Gildernew respectively.
The remaining Mayo candidates Saoirse McHugh (Ind) and Michelle Smith (Ind) polled 18,976 and 6,713 respectively.
The state of play in Ballina is that we have eight candidates left for four seats. It is possible but not entirely likely that Nolan's transfers will elect Annie-May Reape on the seventh count.
If a candidate is to eliminated following Count 7, likely Hugh Rouse or Joe Doocey, that will make Count 8 an interesting one for sure. If Rouse drops, it could give Jarlath Munnelly a much-needed boost to take him further clear of David Alexander.
If Joe Doocey is eliminated after the next count, the destination of his transfers is less clear. Perhaps his fellow Independent Joe Faughnan may benefit.
My advice is this - don't go to bed. Stick on the kettle, make another cup of coffee and stay with us right here on the Western People live blog as we take you through the night.
There's still a second recount ongoing in Swinford and we expect news on that in the wee small hours of the morning. The first count in Midlands North West has taken place, we'll have that for you shortly.
Count 6 has just taken place in Ballina, the distribution of Antonio Cafolla's votes which have skewed massively towards his Sinn Féin colleague Una Morris, as anticipated.
David Alexander (Fianna Fáil) - +10, 1,088
Joe Doocey (Independent) - +14, 560
Joe Faughnan (Independent) - +15, 1,300
Michael Loftus (Fianna Fáil) - +13, 1,409
Úna Morris (Sinn Féin) - +169, 698
Jarlath Munnelly (Fine Gael) - +11, 1,094
Willie Nolan (Independent) - +14, 465
Annie May Reape (Fianna Fáil) - +18, 1,579
Hugh Rouse (Fine Gael) - +10, 577
Willie Nolan has now been eliminated and his votes will be distributed.
Man alive, it's Count number 5 in Ballina. Joe Doocey, as expected, received a great transfer from Garie Beattie.
David Alexander (Fianna Fáil) - +8, 1,078
Antonio Cafolla (Sinn Féin) - +15, 320
Joe Doocey (Independent) - +108, 546
Joe Faughnan (Independent) - +23, 1,285
Michael Loftus (Fianna Fáil) - +5, 1,396
Úna Morris (Sinn Féin) - +6, 529
Jarlath Munnelly (Fine Gael) - +4, 1,083
Willie Nolan (Independent) - +26, 451
Annie May Reape (Fianna Fáil) - +13, 1,561
Hugh Rouse (Fine Gael) - +4, 567
Cafolla has been eliminated and his votes will now be distributed.
A Midlands North West count is expected within the hour.
The second recount is underway in Swinford.
Count 4 is in for Ballina. Not much moving and shaking on this count although there were some gains for Joe Doocey, Garie Beattie and Joe Faughnan.
David Alexander (Fianna Fáil) - +5, 1,070
Garie Beattie (Independent) - +40, 253
Antonio Cafolla (Sinn Féin) - +6, 305
Joe Doocey (Independent) - +30, 438
Joe Faughnan (Independent) - +23, 1,262
Michael Loftus (Fianna Fáil) - +2, 1,391
Úna Morris (Sinn Féin) - +7, 523
Jarlath Munnelly (Fine Gael) - +6, 1,079
Willie Nolan (Independent) - +16, 425
Annie May Reape (Fianna Fáil) - +11, 1,548
Hugh Rouse (Fine Gael) - +6, 563
Garie Beattie has been eliminated. Count 5, expected soon will be based on the distribution of his votes.
The third count is in for Ballina, the distribution of Mark Duffy's surplus and it is more great news for Annie May Reape, who received a transfer of 128 votes bringing her ever closer to the quota of 1,776.
Hugh Rouse also fared well in transfers here but may be too far to contend at this stage. His presumed and eventual elimination and transfer should benefit Jarlath Munnelly but there's a long way to go in Ballina yet!
Joe Faughnan fared well again with 54 transfers but was perhaps expecting a bit more to come his way from his fellow Independent Duffy's surplus.
David Alexander (Fianna Fáil) - +27, 1,065
Garie Beattie (Independent) - +19, 213
Antonio Cafolla (Sinn Féin) - +27, 299
Joe Doocey (Independent) - +13, 408
Joe Faughnan (Independent) - +54, 1,229
Keith Howley (Independent) - +4, 75
Michael Loftus (Fianna Fáil) - +43, 1,389
Úna Morris (Sinn Féin) - +29, 516
Jo Mullen (Independent) - +11, 97
Jarlath Munnelly (Fine Gael) - +51, 1,073
Willie Nolan (Independent) - +54, 409
Annie May Reape (Fianna Fáil) - +128, 1,537
Hugh Rouse (Fine Gael) - +92, 557
Mullen and Howley have been eliminated and their votes will now be distributed.
A second recount has been called in Swinford!
Second count is in from Ballina. Returning officer John Condon has announced that there was some errors in count 1 and therefore, the quota to be elected is now 1,776. Despite these errors, there is no material change for any of the candidates.
Annie May Reape was the big winner from count 2, gaining a surplus of 232 votes from the already elected John O'Hara.
David Alexander (Fianna Fáil) - +39, 1,038
Garie Beattie (Independent) - +5, 194
Antonio Cafolla (Sinn Féin) - +16, 272
Joe Doocey (Independent) - +12, 395
Joe Faughnan (Independent) - +55, 1,185
Keith Howley (Independent) - +2, 71
Michael Loftus (Fianna Fáil) - +45, 1,346
Úna Morris (Sinn Féin) - +13, 487
Jo Mullen (Independent) - +5, 86
Jarlath Munnelly (Fine Gael) - +89, 1,022
Willie Nolan (Independent) - +23, 355
Annie May Reape (Fianna Fáil) - +232, 1,409
Hugh Rouse (Fine Gael) - +79, 465
Count 3 will see the surplus of 552 votes distributed.
The recount is expected to be close to 8pm this evening.
We are still waiting on the Ballina second count and the Swinford recount...
This is the scene below us with the counters in full flow for the European side of things.
While we await further updates today...
The Belmullet result concluded on Sunday - Paul McNamara (Fianna Fail), Gerry Coyle (Fine Gael) and Sean Carey (Fianna Fail) secured the three seats.
Read reaction from McNamara and Coyle.
Sean Carey also spoke to Tom Byrne following his re-election.
And here is the first count from Ballina (6 seats). Duffy and O'Hara elected. Michael Loftus and Annie May Reape looking strong along with Joe Faughnan. Looking like a battle in Killala between David Alexander and Jarlath Munnelly for the final seat.
1,769
David Alexander (Fianna Fáil) - 994
Garie Beattie (Independent) - 189
Antonio Cafolla (Sinn Féin) - 256
Joe Doocey (Independent) - 382
Mark Duffy (Independent) - 2,325 (Elected)
Joe Faughnan (Independent) - 1,121
Keith Howley (Independent) - 69
Michael Loftus (Fianna Fáil) - 1,291
Úna Morris (Sinn Féin) - 474
Jo Mullen (Independent) - 81
Jarlath Munnelly (Fine Gael) - 932
Willie Nolan (Independent) - 331
John O'Hara (Fine Gael) - 2,374 (Elected)
Annie May Reape (Fianna Fáil) - 1,176
Hugh Rouse (Fine Gael) - 385
O'Hara and Duffy's surplus will be distributed for the second count.
John O'Hara (Fine Gael) and Mark Duffy (IND) have been elected following the first count in Ballina.
Full first count results to follow...
The Ballina first count is close. Read an interesting fact about it before the announcement HERE.
Another great photo during Monday at the local elections in the TF - Sergeant Sean McHale and Mags Downey Martin.
A snap of the ongoing Swinford recount - courtesy of John O'Grady.
Tom Byrne and Paul O'Malley here to take you through the next few hours - thanks to all for tuning in over the last two days.
Recap on two stories from Sunday:
The confirmed Belmullet result.
And a very intriguing fact about the Ballina count.
Today's update: It is expected that the Ballina first count will now commence between 2pm and 3pm.
The Swinford recount has been one of the big stories of this Election cycle. It came down to the wire with just one vote between Neil Cruise and John Sheahan. John Caulfield sat only four votes ahead of Cruise and Adrian Forkan was about 27 ahead of Caulfield. Gerry Murray had already been elected on the third count.
We can expect some movement on the recount later this evening.
James Laffey had his say on how he sees this area going.
Welcome to the third installment of the Western People Local Election Liveblog.
Early days today on Monday but already we're rolling on the river (Moy). The count in Ballina has gotten underway and a first count is expected just before lunchtime. Paul O'Malley did his best to call how it will all go in north Mayo.
The recount is getting underway in Swinford after a dramatic finish to the fifth and final count last night. Read all about that here.
Elsewhere, we have counts complete in Castlebar, Claremorris, Westport and Belmullet. There are changes aplenty but some familiar faces staying put in their seat around the table in Aras an Chontae.
Midlands North-West count is ongoing and is a marathon effort by the looks of things! Put it this way, we'd rather be up here on the media balcony than down there, lost in a sea of ballot papers. First count will come either tonight or tomorrow, we'll have a better indication around 5pm.
