Galway West
History made in Galway West with two female TDs
Galway West has made history by returning two women to Dáil Éireann.
Fine Gael Senator Hildegarde Naughton and Independent Galway City Councillor Cath erine Connolly have both been elected to the Dáil for the first time.
For Connolly, formerly of Labour, it’s third time lucky – she lost out in 2011 by just 17 votes and was beaten in 2007 also.
A former city mayor, Naughton was unsuccessful in 2011 on the four-candidate FG ticket.
Maire Geoghegan Quinn, the former Fianna Fáil Justice Minister, was the only woman ever elected to represent Galway West. It is almost 20 years, 1997, since the former EU Commissioner left the Dáil.
Fine Gael retained its two seats in Galway West, bucking the national trend which saw the first preference vote for the party plummet with many TDs losing their seats.
As well as Naughton, sitting TD Seán Kyne also held the seat he narrowly won ahead of Connolly five years ago.
Kyne, Connolly and Naughton were elected on the 14th count on Fine Gael John O’Mahony’s transfers.
Sinn Féin senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh was the last man standing not to be elected. He was ahead of Naughton before the final count but O’Mahony’s transfers pushed her well ahead of her nearest rival.
Ó Clochartaigh was about 900 ahead of Naughton before the final count but O’Mahony delivered her over 2,000 transfers.
Fianna Fáil’s Éamon Ó Cuív, who topped the poll, and Independent Noel Grealish, had been elected on earlier counts.
The five TDs who will represent Galway West are: Ó Cuív, Grealish, Kyne, Connolly and Naughton. That’s two Fine Gael, one Fianna Fáil, and two Independents.
Kyne, Connolly and Naughton were elected without reaching the quota.
The sitting TDs were: Cuív, Kyne and Grealish, Brian Walsh (FG), who retired due to ill-health, and Labour’s Derek Nolan.
Walsh’s seat has been held by Naughton and Connolly effectively took the ‘left’ seat off Labour.