BREAKING: Final tally in Limerick City, as new polltopper likely

THE FINAL tally in the Limerick City Dail constituency has indicated that veteran TD Willie O'Dea is to comfortably top the poll in the four seater.

Information collated by an army of tallymen and women through this Saturday at the Limerick Racecourse look set to put the Fianna Fail Deputy at the top of the pile, for the first time in eight years.

It appears Mr O'Dea will collect 7,992 first preference votes. But this will put him slightly short of the quota, which is estimated to be around 8,550.

He had lost his mantle of polltopper at the 2020 General Election when Sinn Fein's Maurice Quinlivan topped the pile.

This time, Mr Quinlivan looks like his first preference vote will see him start the count in third position, as he trails Fine Gael TD Kieran O'Donnell by 210 votes, 6008 to 5,798.

The race for fourth place in Limerick City looks like a battle royale.

Currently in that position is Social Democrats councillor Elisa O'Donovan with 2,758 first preferences.

Senator Maria Byrne is just two votes back, at 2,756.

While just 56 votes separate Dee Ryan, Fianna Fail, in sixth position (2,755) and Cllr Conor Sheehan, Labour, in seventh place (2,699).

The tallies carry a health warning, with minor changes expected when deputy returning officer Vincent Murray announces the first count later this Saturday afternoon.

1) Willie O'Dea (FF) - 7,992

2) Kieran O'Donnell (FG) - 6,008

3) Maurice Quinlivan (SF) - 5,798

4) Cllr Elisa O'Donovan (SD) - 2,758

5) Senator Maria Byrne (FG) - 2,756

6) Dee Ryan (FF) - 2,755

7) Cllr Conor Sheehan (Lab) - 2,699

8) Cllr Frankie Daly (IND) - 1,983

9) Cllr Sarah Beasley (AON) - 1,948

10) Brian Leddin (GP) - 1,753

11) Senator Paul Gavan (SF) - 1,350

12) Dean Quinn (IP) - 934

13) - Ruairi Fahy (PBP) - 700

14) Esther Aherne (II) - 683

15) Melanie Cleary (IND) - 614

16) Michelle Hayes (IND) - 374

17) Dean Lillis (IND) - 132