Tallies completed in County Limerick municipal districts with shocks on the cards

TALLIES have now been completed across the three municipal districts of County Limerick at the count centre in Limerick Racecourse.

There are 152 ballot boxes across Newcastle West, Adare-Rathkeale and Cappamore-Kilmallock. 

The Adare-Rathkeale area was the first to have all boxes open and there was a 53.74% voter turnout. 

There, Fine Gael Cllr Stephen Keary has 17.4% of the predicted votes, with his party colleague Adam Teskey at 14.3%, and Fianna Fáil’s Bridie Collins in just behind them at 11.5%. 

On the other end of the scale, Independent Robert Daly is at 0.5%, with Fine Gael’s Michael Sheahan at 5.8% and Sinn Féin’s Joanne Collins at 6%. 

Looking at the tallies alone, it is likely that all of these would be successful in gaining a seat; Cllr Stephen Keary (Fine Gael), Cllr Adam Teskey (Fine Gael), Cllr Bridie Collins (Fianna Fáil), Cllr John O’Donoghue (Independent Ireland), Richie Crehan (Independent) and Tommy Hartigan (Independent Ireland).

However, the usual health warnings apply as these are only tallies and transfers can cause drastic swings.

The Newcastle West area was the next area to have all boxes open. All 45 boxes are now open and there was a voter turnout of 58.7%. 

In the eleventh hour, Independent Cllr Jerome Scanlon has gone into top place with 17% of the votes with Cllr Liam Galvin (Fine Gael) who was in the lead, now having 16.6% of the votes, and Cllr Michael Collins (Fianna Fáil) at 14.8%. 

Looking at the tallies, those taking a seat in the Newcastle West Municipal District could be; Cllr Jerome Scanlon (Independent), Cllr Liam Galvin (Fine Gael), Cllr Michael Collins (Fianna Fáil), Cllr John Sheahan (Fine Gael), Cllr Tom Ruddle (Fine Gael) and Cllr Francis Foley (Fianna Fáil).

Again, health warnings apply.

Last but not least was Cappamore-Kilmallock. The tally of the 61 boxes was completed shortly before 6pm. 

Perennial polltopper Brigid Teefy, Indepdendent, led the way with 15.9%. She was followed by Cllr Martin Ryan, Fianna Fail, on 12.7% and his namesake Cllr Eddie Ryan, Independent, 12.2%.

Fine Gael managed their vote very well with Greg Conway, Tommy O'Sullivan and Noreen Stokes on 8.1%, 7.2%, and 8.7% respectively.

Sinn Fein's Cllr PJ Carey is on 7.5% with Mike Donegan on 5.5%. Fianna Fail's four-candidate strategy could be questioned depending on how it all pans out.

The real counting is due to start at 6.30pm.