Galway West
Galway West: Nolan and Healy Eames the big losers
The two big losers in Galway West compared with 2011 were Derek Nolan and Fidelma Healy Eames.
The first preference share of the vote won by Labour’s Nolan dropped by 57%, compared with his poll-topping performance in 2011.
Nolan, who has already conceded defeat, polled just 3,220 first preferences after the first count. It represents a collapse of the Labour vote in the former Michael D Higgins stronghold.
Nolan insisted Labour would rise again in the constituency.
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (SF) benefited by about 1,000 additional votes compared with 2011 but Independent City Councillor Catherine Connolly picked up just 111 extra votes compared with five years ago, which is surprising given Labour’s collapse.
Social Democrats Niall Ó Tuathail took a good chunk off Nolan, polling a respectable 3,455 first preferences. It won’t put him in the reckoning for a seat but is a strong enough base to build for a City Council bid.
Former Fine Gael now Independent senator Fidelma Healy Eames also saw her first preference share of the vote nosedive.
Her first preference is down by 72% compared with 2011, when she polled over 5,000 votes and was in fifth place after the first count before later being eliminated.
The Maree-based senator is down to 1,394.