Galway West
Cliffhanger in store for final Galway West seat
The last two seats in Galway West appear too close to call.
The first three seats are likely to be filled by sitting TDs Éamon Ó Cuív (FF), Sean Kyne (FG), and Noel Grealish (Ind) with a five-way dogfight for the final two.
Labour’s Derek Nolan, who topped the poll in 2011, has already conceded defeat and the first count has not yet been announced.
This ‘left’ seat will be a battle between Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (SF) and City Councillor Catherine Connolly (Ind). The final seat will be between Ó Clochartaigh or Connolly and then two Fine Gael candidates, former city mayor, the senator Hildegarde Naughton and Mayo TD, John O’Mahony who switched to Galway West following a boundary redraw.
Fianna Fáil are still holding out the prospect of a second seat for former City Councillor John Connolly although that now appears unlikely even though he polled far better than expected.
Catherine Connolly is city based, and will be more transfer-friendly than Ó Clochartaigh. Whichever Fine Gael candidate, Naughton and O’Mahony, can stay ahead will benefit greatly from transfers from the eliminated candidate and makes a second Fine Gael seat another possibility.
A first count is not due until later this evening.
Galway West
99% of boxes tallied:
Charity James (Ind) 1.9%
Connolly, Catherine (Ind) 7.6%
Connolly, John (FF) 6.1%
Cubbard Mike (Ind) 3.7%
O Cuiv Éamon (FF) 14.9
Davoren Nicola(Renua) 1.5%
Feeney 0%
Grealish Noel (Ind) 11%
Healy Eames Fidelma (Ind)2.1%
Hoade Mary (FF) 3.5%
Holohan Tommy (AAA) 1.5%
Kyne Seán (FG) 9.6%
Naughton Hildegarde 7%
Nolan Derek (Lab) 4.8%
O Clochartaigh Trevor (SF) 8.8%
O’Mahony John (FG) 7.4%
O’Neill 0%
O Tuaithail Niall (Soc Dems) 5.2%
Sheridan Seamus (Greens) 2.4%
Roddy Tommy (Ind) 0.4%