Finally the first candidate has been elected as Timmy Dooley exceeded the quota on the seventh count.
The results of the count were,
Dooley (FF) +1,378 12,150
Harty (Ind) +328 10,688
Breen (FG) +92 7,512
Carey (FG) + 138 7,032
McDonagh (FF) +441 5,497
Moran (SF) +101 5058
Norton (Ind) +170 3,152
Timmy Dooley exceeded the quota by 749. That amount of votes are being distributed as his supporters celebrate. Only one vote separates the two Michaels, McDonagh and McNamara. Neither of them look like winning a seat though.
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.