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23 Oct 2025
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23 Oct 2025
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Minister Patrick O'Donovan gives wife Eileen a kiss after he was elected to Dail Eireann
LIMERICK County’s ballot boxes were opened at 9am on Saturday morning with the final votes counted shortly after 2am on Sunday morning.
Minister Patrick O’Donovan (Fine Gael); Richard O’Donoghue (Independent Ireland) and Niall Collins (Fianna Fail) were elected in that order in the three-seater.
Mr O’Donovan topped the poll and was elected on the first count with 11,563 number ones. He surpassed the quota of 11,385. Mr O’Donoghue was next on 10,540 with Mr Collins on 9,284.
Mr O’Donovan was hoisted high into the air at 5.39pm but it was another six hours until Mr O’Donoghue was elected to Dail Eireann.
The Granagh man exceeded the quota on the ninth count.
In the meantime, April Sheehan Corkery (Non-Party); Donna O’Loughlin (Irish Freedom Party); Gerben Uunk (Party for Animal Welfare); Lorraine O'Sullivan (The Irish People); Laura Fahy (People Before Profit-Solidarity); Richie Crehan (Non-Party); Jim Barrett (Non Party) were eliminated and their votes distributed.
After Mr O’Donoghue’s election after the ninth count, Rob O’Donnell (Green Party) was next to be eliminated followed by Michael Ryan (Aontu).
Three of the last four still standing were all Collins’ - Bridie, Joanne and Niall - along with Noreen Stokes (Fine Gael).
Bridie Collins was eliminated after the 12th count and her votes were distributed.
Niall Collins was duly elected on the 13th count - lucky for some - with 11,525 votes at 2.09am. Joanne Collins finished with 7,505 votes and Cllr Stokes with 2,314.
The valid poll was 45,536. There were 332 invalid papers.
Follow our LIVE BLOG across Sunday for full coverage of the count from the Limerick City constituency.
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