Ballinasloe
TALLIES: Independent Dolan the talking point of Ballinasloe
With around half of the boxes tallied for the Ballinasloe electoral area, the performance of Independent candidate in Ballinasloe town, Aisling Dolan, is the main talking point at the moment.
Granted, the majority of boxes opened so far would certainly be in her favour, but she is proving by far to be the strongest town candidate.
She has commanded almost 14% of the vote so far and will certainly be challenging for a seat. The polltopper in 2014, Timmy Broderick (Ind), is polling steady once again and while he may not achieve the 3,200 votes five years ago, he looks fairly safe.
The same can be said of Sinn Fein’s Dermot Connolly, who is also expected to be returned to the six-seat electoral area.
Indeed Connolly could well be the only Sinn Féin candidate elected in the whole city and county give the party’s poor showing on this occasion.
Fianna Fáil’s Michael Connolly did not poll as well as expected in Ballinasloe town, but should secure a seat for the party. His running mates Kenneth O’Brien in Glenamaddy and Ballinasloe’s Mike Kelly are not performing that well.
Fine Gael’s Mike Finnerty and Aidan Donohue are polling steadily but there is still a long way to go while Glenamaddy’s Peter Keaveney of FG, running in the Ballinasloe area for the first time, is performing well in his home base and is currently ahead of rival Declan Geraghty in Ballinasloe.
Independent environment candidate Aisling Dolan picked up one of the last three seats in the Ballinasloe LEA as the count reached its conclusion.
That came after Glenamaddy’s Peter Keaveney was elected having exceeded the quota – and as independent Declan Geraghty from Williamstown also secured his seat.
Earlier Tim Broderick (Ind), Michael Connolly (FF) and Dermot Connolly (SF) also retained their seats on the Ballinasloe Municipal Council.
Cllr Keaveney had previous served in the Tuam area before the boundary changes will implemented last year which brought Glenamaddy and Williamstown into the Tuam area.
There were casualties when Fine Gael’s Michael Finnerty and Aidan Donohue lost their seats and, obviously, they were bitterly disappointed with the outcome.
It means that there will be three new faces on the Ballinasloe Municipal Council.
Finnerty and Donohue along with Connemara’s Tom Healy are the only sitting councillors to lose their seats so far but there are expected to be further casualties in the Tuam electoral area where counting is now taking place.
Ballinasloe
Number of seats: 6
Electorate: 23,513
Total poll: 13,462
Spoiled votes: 211
Total valid poll: 13,251
Quota: 1,894
First count
Timmy Broderick (Ind) 2,362
Michael Connolly (FF) 2,168
Peter Keaveney (FG) 1,632
Declan Geraghty (Ind) 1,541
Dermot Connolly (SF) 1,387
Aisling Dolan (Ind) 1,082
Aidan Donohue (FG) 845
Michael Finnerty (FG) 697
Mike Kelly (FF) 511
Ken Campbell (SD) 407
Harriet Bruce (Ind) 311
Kenneth O’Brien (FF) 308
Broderick and Connolly elected
Second court
(Distribution of Broderick’s surplus)
Peter Keaveney (FG) (+19) 1,651
Declan Geraghty (Ind) (+39) 1,580
Dermot Connolly (SF) (+113) 1,500
Aisling Dolan (Ind) (+60) 1,142
Aidan Donohue (FG) (+99) 944
Michael Finnerty (FG) (+23) 720
Mike Kelly (FF) (+25) 536
Ken Campbell (SD) (+39) 446
Harriet Bruce (Ind) (+33) 344
Kenneth O’Brien (FF) (+18) 326
Third count
(Distribution of Michael Connolly’s surplus)
Peter Keaveney (FG) (+40) 1,691
Declan Geraghty (Ind) (+46) 1,626
Dermot Connolly (SF) (+19) 1,519
Aisling Dolan (Ind) (+18) 1,160
Aidan Donohue (FG) (+36) 980
Michael Finnerty (FG) (+13) 733
Mike Kelly (FF) (+39) 575
Ken Campbell (SD) (+10) 456
Kenneth O’Brien (FF) (+43) 369
Harriet Bruce (Ind) (+10) 354
Bruce eliminated
Fourth count
(Distribution of Bruce’s vote)
Peter Keaveney (FG) (+7) 1,698
Declan Geraghty (Ind) (+11) 1,637
Dermot Connolly (SF) (+84) 1,603
Aisling Dolan (Ind) (+99) 1,259
Aidan Donohue (FG) (+21) 1,001
Michael Finnerty (FG) (+16) 749
Mike Kelly (FF) (+34) 609
Ken Campbell (SD) (+40) 496
Kenneth O’Brien (FF) (+5) 374
O’Brien eliminated
Fifth count
(Distribution of O’Brien’s votes)
Peter Keaveney (FG) (+96) 1,794
Declan Geraghty (Ind) (+85) 1,722
Dermot Connolly (SF) (+11) 1,614
Aisling Dolan (Ind) (+16) 1,275
Aidan Donohue (FG) (+21) 1,022
Michael Finnerty (FG) (+3) 752
Mike Kelly (FF) (+84) 693
Ken Campbell (SD) (+2) 498
Campbell eliminated.
Sixth count
(Distribution of Campbell’s votes)
Peter Keaveney (FG) (+13) 1,807
Dermot Connolly (SF) (+134) 1,748
Declan Geraghty (Ind) (+19) 1,741
Aisling Dolan (Ind) (+147) 1,422
Aidan Donohue (FG) (+37) 1,059
Michael Finnerty (FG) (+32) 784
Mike Kelly (FF) (+31 724
Kelly eliminated
Seventh count
(Distribution of Kelly’s vote)
Peter Keaveney (FG) (+24) 1,831
Dermot Connolly (SF) (+184) 1,932
Declan Geraghty (Ind) (+37) 1,778
Aisling Dolan (Ind) (+149) 1,571
Aidan Donohue (FG) (+31) 1090
Michael Finnerty (FG) (+91) 875
Finnerty eliminated
Eighth count
(Distribution of Finnerty’s votes)
Peter Keaveney (FG) (+67) 1,898
Aisling Dolan (Ind) (+270) 1841
Declan Geraghty (Ind) (+30) 1,808
Aidan Donohue (FG) (+262) 1,352
Keaveney elected; Dolan and Geraghty elected without reaching the quota.
Sinn Fein’s Dermot Connolly has filed the third seat in the Ballinasloe area following the seventh count and the distribution of Mike Kelly’s votes.
The count also further widened the gap between independent Aisling Dolan and Fine Gael ‘s Aidan Donohue.
With Fine Gael’s outgoing councillor Michael Finnerty now eliminated, it would take a transfer of almost 400 votes to Donohue to tilt the balance – and that is highly unlikely.
The distribution of Finnerty’s vote marks the final count in the Ballinasloe Municipal Council area – with Dolan looking odds-on the take that final seat.
Ballinasloe
Number of seats: 6
Electorate: 23,513
Total poll: 13,462
Spoiled votes: 211
Total valid poll: 13,251
Quota: 1,894
First count
Timmy Broderick (Ind) 2,362
Michael Connolly (FF) 2,168
Peter Keaveney (FG) 1,632
Declan Geraghty (Ind) 1,541
Dermot Connolly (SF) 1,387
Aisling Dolan (Ind) 1,082
Aidan Donohue (FG) 845
Michael Finnerty (FG) 697
Mike Kelly (FF) 511
Ken Campbell (SD) 407
Harriet Bruce (Ind) 311
Kenneth O’Brien (FF) 308
Broderick and Connolly elected
Second court
(Distribution of Broderick’s surplus)
Peter Keaveney (FG) (+19) 1,651
Declan Geraghty (Ind) (+39) 1,580
Dermot Connolly (SF) (+113) 1,500
Aisling Dolan (Ind) (+60) 1,142
Aidan Donohue (FG) (+99) 944
Michael Finnerty (FG) (+23) 720
Mike Kelly (FF) (+25) 536
Ken Campbell (SD) (+39) 446
Harriet Bruce (Ind) (+33) 344
Kenneth O’Brien (FF) (+18) 326
Third count
(Distribution of Michael Connolly’s surplus)
Peter Keaveney (FG) (+40) 1,691
Declan Geraghty (Ind) (+46) 1,626
Dermot Connolly (SF) (+19) 1,519
Aisling Dolan (Ind) (+18) 1,160
Aidan Donohue (FG) (+36) 980
Michael Finnerty (FG) (+13) 733
Mike Kelly (FF) (+39) 575
Ken Campbell (SD) (+10) 456
Kenneth O’Brien (FF) (+43) 369
Harriet Bruce (Ind) (+10) 354
Bruce eliminated
Fourth count
(Distribution of Bruce’s vote)
Peter Keaveney (FG) (+7) 1,698
Declan Geraghty (Ind) (+11) 1,637
Dermot Connolly (SF) (+84) 1,603
Aisling Dolan (Ind) (+99) 1,259
Aidan Donohue (FG) (+21) 1,001
Michael Finnerty (FG) (+16) 749
Mike Kelly (FF) (+34) 609
Ken Campbell (SD) (+40) 496
Kenneth O’Brien (FF) (+5) 374
O’Brien eliminated
Fifth count
(Distribution of O’Brien’s votes)
Peter Keaveney (FG) (+96) 1,794
Declan Geraghty (Ind) (+85) 1,722
Dermot Connolly (SF) (+11) 1,614
Aisling Dolan (Ind) (+16) 1,275
Aidan Donohue (FG) (+21) 1,022
Michael Finnerty (FG) (+3) 752
Mike Kelly (FF) (+84) 693
Ken Campbell (SD) (+2) 498
Campbell eliminated.
Sixth count
(Distribution of Campbell’s votes)
Peter Keaveney (FG) (+13) 1,807
Dermot Connolly (SF) (+134) 1,748
Declan Geraghty (Ind) (+19) 1,741
Aisling Dolan (Ind) (+147) 1,422
Aidan Donohue (FG) (+37) 1,059
Michael Finnerty (FG) (+32) 784
Mike Kelly (FF) (+31) 724
Kelly eliminated
Seventh count
(Distribution of Kelly’s vote)
Dermot Connolly (SF) (+184) 1,932
Peter Keaveney (FG) (+24) 1,831
Declan Geraghty (Ind) (+37) 1,778
Aisling Dolan (Ind) (+149) 1,571
Aidan Donohue (FG) (+31) 1,090
Michael Finnerty (FG) (+91) 875
Finnerty eliminated
After six counts in the Ballinasloe area, the locally based Independent candidate and HSE employee Aisling Dolan is closing in on a seat with just a couple of counts remaining.
The sixth count saw the elimination of Fianna Fail’s Mike Kelly – and he transferred heavily to both Dolan and Sinn Fein’s Dermot Connolly.
Tim Broderick (Ind) and Michael Connolly (FF) are still the only candidates elected in the six-seater electoral area so far.
However, three of the remaining four seats are expected to be taken by Peter Keaveney (FG), Declan Geraghty (Ind) and Dermot Connolly (SF).
After that, Aisling Dolan has opened up a gap of around 360 votes over Fianna Fail’s Aidan Donohue which will be very difficult to close.
And even with the likely elimination of his party colleague Michael Finnerty, it will be extremely unlikely that he will make up the difference.
Meanwhile, the count for the Tuam electoral area is just underway.
Ballinasloe
Number of seats: 6
Electorate: 23,513
Total poll: 13,462
Spoiled votes: 211
Total valid poll: 13,251
Quota: 1,894
First count
Timmy Broderick (Ind) 2,362
Michael Connolly (FF) 2,168
Peter Keaveney (FG) 1,632
Declan Geraghty (Ind) 1,541
Dermot Connolly (SF) 1,387
Aisling Dolan (Ind) 1,082
Aidan Donohue (FG) 845
Michael Finnerty (FG) 697
Mike Kelly (FF) 511
Ken Campbell (SD) 407
Harriet Bruce (Ind) 311
Kenneth O’Brien (FF) 308
Broderick and Connolly elected
Second court
(Distribution of Broderick’s surplus)
Peter Keaveney (FG) (+19) 1,651
Declan Geraghty (Ind) (+39) 1,580
Dermot Connolly (SF) (+113) 1,500
Aisling Dolan (Ind) (+60) 1,142
Aidan Donohue (FG) (+99) 944
Michael Finnerty (FG) (+23) 720
Mike Kelly (FF) (+25) 536
Ken Campbell (SD) (+39) 446
Harriet Bruce (Ind) (+33) 344
Kenneth O’Brien (FF) (+18) 326
Third count
(Distribution of Michael Connolly’s surplus)
Peter Keaveney (FG) (+40) 1,691
Declan Geraghty (Ind) (+46) 1,626
Dermot Connolly (SF) (+19) 1,519
Aisling Dolan (Ind) (+18) 1,160
Aidan Donohue (FG) (+36) 980
Michael Finnerty (FG) (+13) 733
Mike Kelly (FF) (+39) 575
Ken Campbell (SD) (+10) 456
Kenneth O’Brien (FF) (+43) 369
Harriet Bruce (Ind) (+10) 354
Bruce eliminated
Fourth count
(Distribution of Bruce’s vote)
Peter Keaveney (FG) (+7) 1,698
Declan Geraghty (Ind) (+11) 1,637
Dermot Connolly (SF) (+84) 1,603
Aisling Dolan (Ind) (+99) 1,259
Aidan Donohue (FG) (+21) 1,001
Michael Finnerty (FG) (+16) 749
Mike Kelly (FF) (+34) 609
Ken Campbell (SD) (+40) 496
Kenneth O’Brien (FF) (+5) 374
O’Brien eliminated
Fifth count
(Distribution of O’Brien’s votes)
Peter Keaveney (FG) (+96) 1,794
Declan Geraghty (Ind) (+85) 1,722
Dermot Connolly (SF) (+11) 1,614
Aisling Dolan (Ind) (+16) 1,275
Aidan Donohue (FG) (+21) 1,022
Michael Finnerty (FG) (+3) 752
Mike Kelly (FF) (+84) 693
Ken Campbell (SD) (+2) 498
Campbell eliminated.
Sixth count
(Distribution of Campbell’s votes)
Peter Keaveney (FG) (+13) 1,807
Dermot Connolly (SF) (+134) 1,748
Declan Geraghty (Ind) (+19) 1,741
Aisling Dolan (Ind) (+147) 1,422
Aidan Donohue (FG) (+37) 1,059
Michael Finnerty (FG) (+32) 784
Mike Kelly (FF) (+31 724
Kelly eliminated
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