Connolly confident of transfers to take seat

Independent candidate for Galway West, Catherine Connolly, is set to battle it out for one of the final two seats in the constituency with John O’Mahony (FG) and Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (SF) also in contention.
Following a tally of 99 per cent of boxes, Ó Clochartaigh is ahead on first preferences with 8.9 per cent of the vote. Connolly and O’Mahony are neck and neck with 7.6 and 7.1 per cent respectively.

Speaking to ctrib2019.wpengine.com, Connolly was hopeful of winning a seat this time around, following a close call in 2011 when she missed the final seat by just 17 votes.

“I’m feeling a little nervous but if the transfers go my way, it’ll be a good day for me,” she said.

Connolly was confident that she would pick up a large number second preferences from the Social Democrats’ Candidate, Niall Ó Tuaithail as well as a few from the Green Party’s Seamus Sheridan.

Keen not to prematurely predict the outcome of what is likely to be a mammoth count, Connolly batted off any suggestion that her election was a sure thing – but conceded that following the tally, it was looking positive.

“At this stage I think it’s premature, I’m waiting for something more definite in the results. I’m very hopeful and it looks positive, but I’ll wait first before I start anticipating a career after this,” said Connolly.