Tag Archives: clare local election

Counting is continuing apace in the Clare Local Election Count Centre at the West County Hotel and indications are that Count 1 from both the Kilrush and Shannon LEAs should be announced shortly. To keep up to date with all the latest news from the count follow our live blog here

For all the latest local election news from the count centre at Treacy’s West County Hotel, follow the Clare Champion’s LIVE blog from our news team. Log on to the Clare Champion website and click on the blue Local Election icon at the top pf the page to access the rolling LIVE blog. The Kilrush and Shannon counts are currently underway at the centre.

The first result from a Kilrush local electoral area tally area suggest current councillors are holding their own overall, and in their respective home areas. The tally issued in the past hour reveals two current sitting Fianna Fail councillors out front with Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) on 1,008 first preference votes. Significantly, she polled strongly on her home ground of Doonbeg polling a considerable 419 votes – over double that of Dinny Gould (Ind) who polled 191 there. Cllr McInerney was co-opted to the council in January by retiring councillor Bill Chambers. Cllr McInerney is followed by her party colleague, Cllr Cillian Murphy on 777 votes picking up 249 votes and 176 at the two Kilkee NS boxes. However, independent candidates are next strongest in the local electoral area with Cree’s Dinny Gould (Ind) on 747 (191 first preferences gained from his home village) and An Cathaoirleach for West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Ian Lynch on 756. Cllr Lynch picked …

Gerard Kennedy (FG) didn’t get the birthday present he was hoping for today after a recount of the West Clare electoral area saw him eliminated. Mr Kennedy requested the recount after he was eliminated on the fifth vote with just six votes separating him from Fianna Fáil’s Pat Keane. “The advice I got was that it was worth having a recount because at that stage we didn’t know what the story was. I was always under pressure in the position I was in because so many of the candidates around me were all from the Southern end of the constituency so I was unlikely to pick up any transfers,” he told the ‘Champion. Yesterday (Saturday) it looked like Mr Kennedy had polled much worse than his 1,010 first preferences. Tallies showed him more than 200 below this. “I was very disappointed because I thought that 780 was a poor enough reflection on what we had done on the canvas, and …

DEFEATED Ennis Fine Gael candidate said that he was taken aback at his ninth count elimination yet he remained philosophical, suggesting that there was more to life than winning or losing elections. “It came as a surprise but that’s life, that’s politics. I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed. These things happen in life and you just get on with it. There’s always another day. I’m a very positive person in life. I have my health and I have my family and what more do I need?,” he said in the aftermath of confirmation that his chances of winning a seat were dashed. However he said that this defeat may not be his last election campaign. “I’d rule nothing out. I haven’t fully analysed it yet. In time I will. That’s the result and I accept it. For the last five years I’ve worked at it and what more can I say. I’d like to thank my supporters, the people who voted …