TALLIES Galway West: Ó Cuív set to top the poll

Completed tallies in Galway West indicate that Fianna Fáil stalwart Éamon Ó Cuív will top the poll once again with just under 15% of the first preference vote.

However, Sinn Féin candidate Máiread Farrell is hot on his heels at 14% – the national surge in support for the party has propelled the former city councillor, who lost her seat in last May’s Local Elections, into poll position to take a seat.

Projections from an opinion poll released half way through the campaign that Independent TD Noel Grealish was in trouble didn’t materialise – with the former Progressive Democrat in third place with almost 13% of first preferences.

It appears that Fine Gael will struggle to hold a their two seats in Galway West – with sitting TD Hildegarde Naughton (9.2%) looking more likely to hold a seat than her party colleague, outgoing Junior Minister Seán Kyne (8.8%) who will be the less transfer friendly of the pair.

Outgoing Independent TD Catherine Connolly is on just under 9% of first preferences and is likely to benefit from transfers as candidates on the Left are eliminated in the coming hours.

Green Party candidate, City Councillor Pauline O’Reilly and Social Democrats candidate Niall Ó Tuathail are polling at 6% each according to the final tally.

Cllr Ollie Crowe (FF) is on 8% of the vote, while the Mayor, Cllr Mike Cubbard is on just under 5%. Cllr Cubbard has conceded that he will not take a seat.

Their Council colleague, Cllr Niall McNelis has failed to make any gains for the Labour Party, taking just over 2%.

The Galway West tally is now complete (at 99% as two boxes appear not to have been tallied).