Galway East 1st count: O’Reilly, MacCanna eliminated

GALWAY EAST FIRST COUNT
Number of seats: 3
Electorate: 69,233
Total poll: 42,858
Spoiled votes: 338
Total valid poll: 42,520
Quota: 10,631

Sean Canney (Ind): 7,815
Louis O’Hara (SF) 7,108
Ciaran Cannon (FG) 6,298
Pete Roche (FG) 6,034
Anne Rabbitte (FF) 5,762
Donagh Killilea (FF) 4,932
Eoin Madden (GP) 1,924
Peter Reid (GP) 848
Marian Spelman (Lab) 845
Martin Ward (Aon) 582
David O’Reilly (Ind) 246
Deaglan MacCanna (Ren) 126
O’Reilly, MacCanna eliminated

Photo: Former TD Noel Treacy at the Galway East count in Headford. Photo by Jacinta Fahy, Johnny Ryan Photography.

The first count in the Galway East constituency has been completed and, as expected, outgoing Independent TD Sean Canney has topped the poll by receiving more than 7,800 first preferences.

But the main talking point is the performance of Sinn Féin’s Louis O’Hara who received the second highest first preferences by commanding more than 7,000 votes but may struggle for transfers in his quest to be elected.

The Athenry-based student said that he was pleased with his performance and believed that health and housing , along with a lot of arrogance on the part of the larger parties, resulted in the public putting their trust in Sinn Féin.

While Anne Rabbitte is set to be returned for Fianna Fáil, it is far too close to call when it comes to the destination of the Fine Gael seat. There is just 264 votes between outgoing TD Ciaran Cannon and his running mate Cllr Pete Roche and it will take a few counts before any definite picture emerges.