GALWAY WEST – Ó Cuív looks set to top the poll

Date Published: 26-Feb-2011

BY DARA BRADLEY

Outgoing Fianna Fáil Minister Éamon Ó Cuív looks set to hold his seat, according to the tally of 80 boxes in Galway West.

Ó Cuív is leading the field with 13.7% with half of all votes tallied. He polled very strongly in Connemara and has pushed Labour’s Derek Nolan into second on 13.5%.

Fine Gael’s Connemara candidate, Seán Kyne, has shot up after polling strongly in his home area of Moycullen and Oughterard. Kyne is on 9.5%.

Independent Catherine Connolly (10.1%) and Sinn Féin’s Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (7.7%) both polled respectably in the Gaeltacht boxes.

Of the 80 boxes, there is a valid poll of 27,543 so far.

Independent Noel Grealish and Fine Gael’s Fidelma Healy Eames should improve on their first preference tallies when the Carnmore and Oranmore area boxes are revealed.

84 boxes remain to be tallied. The first official count is not expected until about 4.30pm.

How they stand after 80 boxes:

Brolcháin 2.2%

Connolly 10.1%

Crowe 2.9%

Cubbard 1.8%

Cuív 13.7%

Fahey 5.3%

Grealish 4.7%

Healy Eames 5%

King 0.1%

Kyne 9.5%

Naughton 6.6%

Nolan 13.5%

O Clochartaigh 7.7%

Walsh, Brian 9.4%

Walsh, Eamon 2.4%

Welby 4.6%