Two new faces on the city council in the west as all seats filled

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May 27, 2019

Galway Daily news Sinn Féin loses all seats on city council

It’s been a bad day for Sinn Féin in Galway and nationwide as the leftist party has lost all of its seats on Galway city council.

Sinn Féin had three councillors on the city council, one each in the west, central, and east districts, all of whom have lost their seats.

Mark Lohan lost his City Central seat his first time running for election given the fact he was co-opted onto the Council by Anna Marley.

Lohan was eliminated in the fourth round of counting for the city central district, though his seat has yet to be filled as there is a recount for Galway City Central scheduled for today.

Things looked sketchy for Lohan from as soon as the tallies came in on Friday with placing him in 12th place at 4.72 percent of the vote.

Cathal Ó Conchúir has been eliminated from the Galway City West Ward where he was polling in ninth place.

The Barna man obtained 416 first preference votes with a 5.1% vote share. This was down from 9.18% first preference vote share he obtained in 2014.

In the east district of the city council Mairéad Farrell lost her seat to Owen Hanley of the Social Democrats

Farrell obtained 522 votes which was a decrease of the 782 votes she got in 2014.

With just 17 votes between the two Farrell requested a recount yesterday but the results were unchanged.

Farrell said on twitter that she was “disappointed to have lost out today by a handful of votes” but added that Hanley would be a “formidable councillor”.

It seems that the Green Party surge has bruised every party nationally and that extends to Sinn Féin in Galway.

The Social Democrats have also experienced a surge in support with Owen Hanley taking a seat in the city east and Sharon Nolan still in the running for a place in the city central district.

Second recount granted in Galway City Central

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May 26, 2019

Galway Daily news McDonagh eliminated after city central recount — 30/02/2019 Repro Free: Labour candidate for 2019 local elections John McDonagh at City hall. Photo: Andrew Downes, Xposure

A second recount has been granted in the Galway City Central District and will take place tomorrow.

John McDonagh (Lab) requested a full recount and reexamination of the district vote from returning officer Gary McMahon which was granted.

McDonagh is currently polling eight in the six seat district which has so far elected Mike Cubbard (Ind) and Ollie Crowe (FF).

Eddie Hoare (FG) is also a shoe in to secure a seat as he is currently just 36 votes shy of the quota at 1,108.

The fourth seat would seem to favour Frank Fahy (FG) at this time where he currently has 927 votes.

However the final two seats will be closely contested with less than 50 votes between the four possibilities.

Leading is Collette Connolly (Ind) who moved up the placing from earlier counts and now has 800 votes, followed by Sharon Nolan (SD) at 793 who is looking to secure her party’s second seat on the city council.

Polling seventh is Martina O’Connor (GP) with 769 votes and McDonagh (Lab) is in eight place with 759.

Ballinasloe sees strong performance by sitting councillors

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May 26, 2019

Galway daily news Lease approved for modular homes for Ukrainian refugees in Ballinasloe

The Ballinasloe district is at its sixth count with returning councillors performing very well.

Two councillors have so far been elected in Ballinasloe. Independent Tim Broderick and Fianna Fáil’s Michael Connolly were both returned to their seats in the first count.

Broderick took 2,362 first preference votes, 468 more than the quota, while Connolly followed him with 2,168.

After another four counts and the elimination of the two lowest performing candidates, Harriet Bruce (Ind) and Kenneth O’Brien (FF), no-else has yet made the quota.

But the strongest performing are Peter Keaveney (FF), currently sitting in the Tuam area, who needs just 87 votes to secure a seat.

Followed current Ballinasloe area councillor Dermot Connolly (SF), polling well at 1,748 and likely to secure a seat.

Slight behin him is Independent challenger Declan Geraghty at 1,741 votes, with Aisling Dolan (Ind) in the running for the final seat with 1,422 votes

There are six county council seats up for grabs in the Ballinasloe LEA, with a quota to be elected of 1,894 votes.

Ollie Crowe comfortably retains his City Central Seat

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May 26, 2019

Galway daily news Ollice Crowe achieves comfortable victory in city central ward

It was all smiles for Fianna Fáil’s Ollie Crowe as he comfortably retained his council seat in the Galway City Central Ward.

So far Mike Cubbard and Ollie Crowe have been elected to the City Central Ward after eight counts.

Ollie Crowe has exceeded the quota and obtained 1160 votes and finished in second right behind Sitting Independent Candidate Mike Cubbard.

Fianna Fáil will be looking to try and gain a second seat in this ward by hoping Imelda Byrne will he elected.

Currently, Aontu’s Cormac O’Corcoráin has been excluded and they are distributing his transfers.

If he has transferred well to Imelda Byrne she may still be in the race for the last city council seat.

The fight for the last two seats in Galway City Central has gone right down to the wire.

Sharon Nolan (Social Democrats) is in 5th place on 762 votes. Behind her in 6th is Martina O’Connor of the Green Party with 720 votes.

In 7th place for the 6th seater is Colette Connolly (Independent) with 701 votes. In 8th is Labour’s John McDonagh with 694 votes.

Recount granted in Galway City East with 17 vote margin

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May 26, 2019

Galway daily news Sinn Féin takes the lead in Galway West

A full reexamination and recount in Galway City East after the last count saw the final three seats filled.

Sinn Féin councillor Mairéad Farrell requested the recount from the city returning officer as the last count saw just 17 votes in the difference between her and Social Democrats candidate Owen Hanley.

Owen Hanley was deemed elected on the Thirteenth Count in the city east along with outgoing councillors Noel Larkin (Ind) and Mike Crowe (FF).

Neither of the three achieved the quota for the city council’s east district.

In a twitter post Councillor Farrell said she was “Very disappointed to have lost out today by a handful of votes but will continue to build on the work that I have been doing over the past 5 years, I’m sure @OwenHanleyLives will be a formidable councilor”

Very disappointed to have lost out today by a handful of votes but will continue to build on the work that I have been doing over the past 5 years, I'm sure @OwenHanleyLives will be a formidable councilor 😊

— Mairéad Farrell (@Farrell_Mairead) May 26, 2019

Following a request from Mairéad Farrell, the Returning Officer has agreed to a full reexamination and recount for Galway City East. #le19 #GalwayCityLE19

— Galway City Council (@GalwayCityCo) May 26, 2019

Galway City East: Social Democrats elect first city councillor

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May 26, 2019

Galway daily news Social Democrats elect first city councillor

The Social Democrats have made a breakthrough in Galway by electing their very first City Councilor.

Owen Hanley of the Social Democrats has been elected to the Galway City East Ward, but that district is now going to a recount.

The first time candidate has snatched the 6th and final seat in the ward obtaining 786 votes.

Also elected with him to the final three seats in Galway city east were Noel Larkin (Ind) and Mike Crowe (FF).

The three candidates were elected to the city council without achieving the quota in the city east.

A mere 17 votes has separated Owne from the sitting Sinn Féin Candidate Mairead Farrell who obtained 782 votes.

Following on from a request from Máiread Farrell the returning officer has agreed to a full reexamination and recount of Galway city east.

Over in the city central the Social Democrats are in with a chance of returning a second councillor as Sharon Nolan is still in contention for one of the four open seats there.

Independents top the polls in Athenry-Oranmore

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May 26, 2019

Galway daily news Cllr James Charity announces he won't be contesting next election

The final count is in for the seven seats in Athenry Oranmore and there’s a mix of old guard and new in there with sitting Independent candidates polling very well.

The Independents shined in this district with three of the first four seats won in Athenry-Oranmore going to non-party candidates.

Independent James Charity and Albert Dolan of Fianna Fáil were the first to make it over the line in the first count last night, with Charity achieving a surplus of 155 votes.

they were joined by Independents Jim Cuddy and Gabe Cronnelly in the fourth and ninth counts throughout today.

The three Independents are all outgoing councillors who were able to defend their positions.

The main parties didn’t pick up much steam until the tenth and final count with Fine Gael taking two of the last seats and Fianna Fáil picking up another.

David Collins (FG) was elected with 1,596 votes this evening, the last candidate to make it over the quota.

Shelly Herterich Quinn (FF) took the second last seat, being deemed elected with 1,404 votes after the remaining candidates had been excluded.

And former county Mayor Liam Carroll marked his return to politics in Galway after losing his county council seat in 2014 with 1,224 votes.

Things looked uncertain for Carroll yesterday when the tallies were being counted, but the Fine Gale candidate toughed it out to the final round to take the seventh seat in Athenry-Oranmore.

photo: James Charity/Facebook

Galway City West: Galway elects first Green Party Councilor since 2004

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May 26, 2019

Galway daily news Galway City elects first Green party candidate since 2004

There is no doubt that Green Party supporters all over the country are celebrating their surge in support over this last election.

In keeping with the national theme which could see the Green Party elect two candidates to the European Parliament, Galway City Council has elected it’s first candidate from the Greens since 2004.

In Galway City West Pauline O’Reilly has come second in the poll while exceeding the quota with 1304 first preference votes.

There were scenes of jubilation in the Westside Community Centre as Pauline O’Reilly and her team celebrated their achievement.

The Green Party could see two candidates elected with Martina O’Connor putting in a very strong performance in the crowded Galway City Central.

Pauline O’Reilly was one of two candidates elected in the first count in Galway city west along with Independent councillor Donal Lyons.

The two were merely waiting for the official count to begin this morning as exit tallies for the west district showed them both comfortably over the line.

In the county Alastair McKinstry became the first ever member of the Green Party to secure a place on Galway county council yesterday with a seat in Connemara South.

Gardaí concerned for missing Knocknacarra teenager

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May 26, 2019

Galway daily news Gardaí appeal for help locating missing Knocknacarra teenager

Gardaí are appealing for help in locating a teenage girl who has been missing from her home in Knocknacarra since last Friday.

Julija Nedilskaja (14) has been missing since she left her school in Taylor’s Hill around midday on Friday, May 24.

Gardaí and her family are reportedly deeply concerned for her wellbeing and are appealing for any information that could help find her.

Julija is described as 5’9” (1.75m) tall, with a slight build, long dark blond hair and brown eyes.

She was last seen wearing her school uniform of a navy skirt, a navy jumper with school crest and a blue shirt and black runners.

However gardaí have said that it is unlikely that she is still wearing her uniform.

Anyone with any information that could help locate Julija is asked to contact Salthill Garda Station on 091 514 720, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

Fine Gael holds onto both seats in Loughrea

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May 26, 2019

Fine Gael got off to a strong start as counting began in the Loughrea district today, with both of their councillors getting elected in the first count.

Michael ‘Moegie’ Maher and Jimmy McClearn both passed the Loughrea district quota of 1,724 by several hundred votes on the first count.

Maher received 2,152 first choice votes and McClearn was right behind him with 2,041.

East Galway has spoken + we will all respect their verdict. Thanks to the voters,my family,campaign management & canvassers in E'Galway.

— Jimmy McClearn (@jimmymcclearn) February 25, 2011

Shane Curley of Fianna Fáil is the first new face in Loughrea filling the third seat with 1,742 votes on the second count.

With two seats left up for grabs one is very likely to go to Ivan Canning, also of Fianna Fáil who has 1,589 votes and is just 135 away from the quota.

In fourth place is the Independent councillor Pat Hynes with 1,053 votes who also stands a strong chance of securing a seat.

The last county council seat will be a close race depending on where the transfers go as there’s just over 100 votes between Pat Flannagan (FF) and Joe Campbell from Aontú.

photo: Jimmy McClearn/twitter

Mark Lohan loses his seat in the City Central ward

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May 26, 2019

Galway daily news Mark Lohan loses seat in Galway city central

Sinn Féin councillor Mark Lohan has lost his council seat today in the city central district after being eliminated in the fourth round of counting.

Mark Lohan was co-opted to the city council in 2016 to take the seat of Anna Marley who was elected to the city central district in 2014 and later resigned.

Things looked sketchy for Lohan from as soon as the tallies came in yesterday with placing him in 12th place at 4.72 percent of the vote.

Today’s result matches up with a national trend that has seen a poor outing from Sinn Féin, losing seats in local authorities around Ireland, particularly in Dublin.

So far Mike Cubbard is the only person who has been elected to the city council in the central district, with Ollie Crowe (FF) and Eddie Hoare (FG) both likely to secure seats.

Mark Lohan’s 345 votes will now be redistributed in the fifth round of counting.

photo: Mark Lohan/Facebook

Terry O’Flaherty and Alan Cheevers elected to Galway City East

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May 26, 2019

Galway Daily news Two more seats filled in Galway city east

Two more seats have been filled in Galway City East this afternoon with councillor Terry O’Flaherty retaining her seat and first timer Alan Cheevers taking the third.

Independent councillor Terry O’Flaherty was elected with 1,071 votes on the Eight Count of ballots from the city east district.

Alan Cheevers is a first time candidate for Fianna Fáil. He made it over the line on the Tenth Count with 1,079 votes.

They mark four people elected to Galway city council so far after Mike Cubbard in Galway city Central and Declan McDonnell in the city east on the first counts.

Nine counts in, X candidates have so far been excluded from the east district as the returning officer has removed Pat Hardiman (Ind), Nuala Nolan (Aontu), Michael Tully (Ind), Liam Boyle (Lab), Conor Burke (S-PBP), Donal Lynch (FG), Neil O’Mahony (Renua), and Claire Hillery (GP) to redistribute their votes.

There are still three seats up for grabs in Galway City East with Michael Crowe (FF) and Noel Larkin (Ind) closing in on two of them.

The last seat is still a close contest with Sinn Féin and Fine Gael both fighting to hold onto a councillor in the district.

Máiread Farrell (SF) currently has a slight lead at 659 votes over John Walsh (FG) who is trailing with 603.

The last other candidate still in the running is Owen Hanley (SD). He will need to take a significant chunk of transfers from Claire Hillery to avoid being knocked out in the next count.

Gort-Kinvara filled on the eight count in victory for the big two parties

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May 26, 2019

Galway Daily news five seats filled in Gort-Kinvara in win for the big two

The Gort-Kinvara district has been filled after eight long counts, with the big two locking down four of five seats.

Kinvara man Joe Byrne (FG) was the clear front runner, sailing past the quota by more than 1,000 votes in the first count.

Fine Gael secured another seat on the second count, with PJ Murphy picking up enough surplus votes from his party colleague to put him over the line.

Counting would continue without anyone making it over the line until the seventh count when Fiann Fáil’s Martina Kinane became the third person named to county council in Gort-Kinvara.

The final two councillors were elected in the eight count, Gerry Finnerty (FF) and Geraldine O’Donoghue (Ind).

Despite his Fine Gael colleagues being the first two over the line, Fionn Kiely failed to pick up enough transfers from Byrne and Murphy to climb from sixth place into contention for a seat.

Transfer votes were crucial to O’Donoghue’s success as she climbed from seventh place at the first count to overtake both Kiely in the seventh count, and edging out Kevin Fahey (FF) by 53 votes in the final count.

She is the only person elected to the county council in Gort-Kinvara who is not from Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael.

Mike Cubbard sails to reelection in Galway City Central

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May 26, 2019

Galway Daily news Ring out the year with a cheer for frontline workers in Christmas convoy

Mike Cubbard has, as expected, secured a safe reelection in the first count of Galway City Central.

The Independent councillor secured 1,292 first preference votes, putting him well over the quota of 1,144 set for the city central district.

His surplus 148 votes were redistributed in the second count, but so far no other candidate has reached the quota.

However Ollie Crowe (FF) can consider himself safe, sitting just 120 votes shy of the line and well ahead of the remaining candidates.

First time Fine Gael candidate Eddie Hoare is likely to take the third seat as he currently stands at 866 votes, and Frank Fahy is polling fourth with 709.

The remaining two seats are two close to call as there are less than fifty votes between sitting councillor Colette Connolly (Ind), John McDonagh (Lab), Sharon Nolan (SD), and Martina O’Connor (GP).

The Returning Officer has deemed Patrick Feeney, Daragh O’Flaherty and James O’Toole to be excluded from the bottom of the table and their votes will now be redistributed in the third count.

He is the second person officially returned to Galway city council so far after Declan McDonnell was elected on the first count in the city east.

Fianna Fáil takes the lion’s share in Connemara

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May 26, 2019

The big parties had a good evening in Connemara as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael swept two thirds of county council seats across the North and South districts.

There were four county council seats up for grabs in Connemara North, and another five open in Connemara South.

Fianna Fáil were the clear winners, taking two seats in each district, while Fine Gael managed to hold onto one in each.

Sinn Féin lost their only representative in Connemara with Tom Healy failing to hold onto his seat and the Green Party scored their first ever position on Galway county council.

Connemara North was the first district in Ireland to start reporting in with Independent Thomas Welby the first councillor in Ireland to get the good news that he was keeping his seat.

He was joined by Eileen Mannion (FG) on the second count, first time candidate Gerry King (FF) on the second, and Seamus Walsh (FF) on the fifth and final count.

Connemara South saw the election of two councillors from Fianna Fáil, one from Fine Gael, one from the Green Party, and one Republican Sinn Féin.

Padraig Mac An Iomaire (FG) was the first elected on the third count, with all four remaining seats in the district filled on the fourth and final count.

Sitting councillors Noel Thomas (FF) and Tomás Ó Curraoin (RSF) were both returned to their seats.

The last two places in Connemara South were filled by the newcomers Alastair McKinstry, the first ever Green Party member of the county council, and Dáithí Ó Cualáin of Fianna Fáíl.

Divorce referendum passes by 82 percent in Galway

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May 26, 2019

Despite worries that it would be lost in the noise of the local and EU elections, the referendum on divorce has passed by the largest margin since the adoption of the Good Friday Agreement.

Victory for the Yes side of the referendum was announced in the early hours of Sunday morning with 82.1 percent of voters approving amendments to the constitution’s provisions on divorce.

Galway city and county were the last districts to report in their counts, with the final announcement at Dublin Castle not coming until 4:30am.

Galway city voted 82.6 percent Yes with a turnout of 46.6 percent, while the county voted Yes by 81.6 percent with 54.9 percent of the electorate casting a vote.

Overall turnout in this referendum was 50.8 percent of the electorate.

Though exit polls predicted a comfortable margin for the Yes side, the extent of the difference still caught many off guard.

This is the largest margin of victory in an Irish referendum since the electorate voted to approve the Good Friday Agreement by 94.4 percent in 1998.

Voters approved two provisions, one to recognise foreign divorces, and another to remove a four year separation period requirement for a divorce from the constitution.

The government has said that it will legislate for a reduced two year separation period.

The largest Yes vote was recorded in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council at 86.7 percent.

While the strongest opposition was in Monaghan which saw a 25 percent No vote.

Culture Minister Josepha Madigan, whose private members bill ultimately led to this referendum, said that the vote was a testament to the “kindness and compassion” of the Irish people to those going though the breakdown of a marriage.

Galway City West tally – Donal Lyons leads as Green’s Pauline O’Reilly surges

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May 25, 2019

Galway Daily news final tally for Galway city west

The final Tally for Galway City West is in and Knocknacarra’s Donal Lyons is leading the pack, with the Green Party’s Pauline O’Reilly surging to second.

Donal Lyons has handily secured his seat in the city west with 1,444 votes, locking up 17.6% of the vote ahead of all other candidates.

Pauline O’Reilly of the Greens will also be elected tomorrow as the first time candidate has rode a green wave to secure 16% of first preferences to put her in second place with 1,302 votes.

The next seats are likely to go to Labour’s Niall McNellis, who is looking secure at 909 votes, and Fianna Fáil councillor Peter Keane who is at 887.

Fine Gael’s Clodagh Higgins is currently likely to secure the fifth city council seat with 818 votes in the final unofficial.

The final seat in the city west is going to be a very narrow competition tomorrow, likely going to Pearce Flannery or John Connolly.

There are just two votes between Fine Gael’s Flannery at 723 votes and Fianna Fáil contender Connolly who has 725.

The first official count tomorrow will provide more insight after the surplus votes from Donal Lyons and Pauline Reilly are redistributed.

Sinn Féin’s Cathal Ó Conchuir looks likely to lose his seat as he is currently holding just 5.1% of the vote in Galway city west.

The tally results for Galway City West as they stand now are:

Donal Lyons (Independent) – 1,444 / 17.6%
Pauline Reilly (Green Party) – 1,302 / 15.9%
Niall McNelis (Labour Party) – 909 / 11.1%
Peter Keane (Fianna Fáil) – 887 / 10.8%
Clodagh Higgins (Fine Gael) – 818 / 10%
John Connolly (Fianna Fáil) – 725 / 8.8%
Pearce Flannery (Fine Gael) -723 / 8.8%
John Crowley (Social Democrats) – 483 / 5.9%
Cathal Ó Conchúir (Sinn Féin) – 416 / 5.1%
Marian Maloney (Independent) – 202 / 2.5%
Tommy Roddy (Independent) – 126 / 1.5%
Mark Anderson (Independent) – 88 / 1.1%
Claire Keegan (Independent) – 26 / 0.3%
Darius Ivan (Independent) – 25 / 0.3%
Patrick Feeney (Independent) 24 / 0.3%

Joe Byrne elected in Gort-Kinvara district

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May 25, 2019

Galway Daily news councillor Joe Byrne returned in Gort-Kinvara district

Councillor Joe Byrne has been returned in the first count of the Gort-Kinvara district with 2,751 first preferences.

The Kinvara councillor with Fine Gael was the clear leader in the polls, passing the quota by more than 1,000 votes in the first count.

The quota to be deemed elected to the county council in the Gort-Kinvara district is 1,693 votes.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael look likely to lock up this five seat district, polling in the top six positions after the first count.

PJ Murphy, also Fine Gael, also seems likely to secure a position at 1,615 votes, just 78 shy of the quota.

Behind him are three Fianna Fáil candidates. Councillor Martina Kinane looks likely to retain her seat with 1,479 votes, followed by Gerry Finnerty with 818 votes and Kevin Fahey with 812.

Councillor Byrne’s 1,058 surplus votes will now be redistributed, something that could give a boost to his part colleague Fionn Kiely who is in sixth place with 597 votes and put him in contention for a seat.

Declan McDonnell elected in first count of Galway City East

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May 25, 2019