Live: Councillors re-elected in Cobh, Fermoy, East Cork and Macroom

12.35am -East Cork first count

Independent Mary Linehan Foley topped the polls on 2,962 and was elected on the first count alongside Michael Hegarty of Fine Gael with 2,116.

• Edith Adams, Sinn Fein - 715, 
• Ann Marie Ahern, Fianna Fail – 1,053, 
• John Buckley, Independent -8,62, 
• Sean Buckley, Independent – 654, 
• Paddy Bullman, Ireland First - 368, 
• Rory Cocking, Fine Gael – 1,400, 
• Alison Curtin, Fine Gael – 803, 
• Clodagh Harrington, Green Party – 387, 
• Eileen Kelly McCarthy, Independent Ireland, 
• Patrick Mulcahy, Fianna Fail – 1,629, 
• Michelle Neville, Independent – 147, 
• James Peter O’Sullivan, The Irish People – 211, 
• Liam Quaide, Social Democrats – 1,606 and 
• Mona Stromsoe – Aontu, 692.

12.23am - Fermoy first count

The first count for the Fermoy local electoral area (LEA), was announced at midnight, which saw sitting Independent councillor William O’Leary re-elected on 2,920 first preference votes, 562 votes above the quota of 2,358.

This was accompanied by the re-election of sitting Fine Gael councillor Noel McCarthy, who came in on 2,624 first preference votes, 266 votes above quota.

Fermoy Counts 

Electorate: 31,544 

Votes Cast: 16,655 

Spoiled Votes: 154 

Valid Poll: 16,501 

Quota: 2,358 

• Derek Blighe (|IF) - 899 
• Ken Brennan (Ind IE) - 162 
• Neilus Cotter: (FF) – 1,239 
• Kay Dawson (FG) – 1,059 
• Diarmuid Hanley (Lab) - 915 
• Thomas Horgan (Ind) - 61 
• Noel McCarthy (FG) – 2,624 
• Deirdre O’Brien (FF) – 1,891 
• Joe O’Brien (SF) - 725 
• Peter O’Donoghue (Ind) - 937 
• Frank O’Flynn (FF) – 2,150 
• William O’Leary (Ind) – 2,920 
• Frank Roche (Ind) - 628 
• Mary Ryder (Green Party) - 189 
• Joe Tobin (Ind) - 102 

As sitting councillors William O’Leary and Noel McCarthy both exceeded the quota they have been deemed to be elected.

William O’Leary’s surplus of 562 votes now being distributed.

11.55pm - Macroom vote delayed

The announcement of the First Count results for the Macroom Municipal District elections was delayed for almost half an hour.

However, it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the supporters of the two candidates elected on the First Count when the result was finally announce at 11.30pm.

Outgoing councillors, Gobnait Moynihan of Fianna Fáil and Michael Creed of Fine Gael, were returned with first preference totals of 2794 and 2593 respectively, both exceeding the quota of 2,542 votes.

FIRST COUNT: MACROOM

Michael Creed (Fine Gael) and Gobnait Moynihan (Fianna Fáil) are elected in the first count in the Macroom Electoral Area.

4 seats remain to be filled.#CorkCountyLE24 #LE2024 #LE24 pic.twitter.com/6ep9Wx378c

— Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) June 8, 2024

“It wasn’t a tough campaign at all,” said Michael Creed. “I’m absolutely thrilled to get over the line myself but I’m more than thrilled that the other two Fine Gael councillors will also get elected and it’s a pleasure and a privilege to serve alongside them.” 

Astute vote management enabled Fine Gael to garner enough votes to get Michael Creed over the line and pave the way for his two running mates, Eileen Lynch and Ted Lucey, to follow him back to the Council.

“We divided the area into three patches, everyone kept to the divide and our aim from the start was to get three Fine Gael councillors elected and we went out with that intention so I’m absolutely delighted that it worked.” The intention of the count officials is to distribute the surpluses of both the elected councillors.

11.47pm

Macroom 

Electorate 32,318 

Total poll 17,927 

Spoiled votes 140 

Total valid poll 17,788 

Quota 2,542 

Gobnait Moynihan and Michael Creed have been elected on the first count.

• Harriet Burgess, Green Party – 939, 
• Martin Coughlan, Independent - 1,478, 
• Michael Creed, Fine Gael – 2,593, 
• Dermot Kelleher, Independent Ireland – 1,337, 
• Michael Looney Fianna Fail – 2,508, 
• Ted Lucey Fine Gael - 2058 
• Eileen Lynch, Fine Gael - 2,376, 
• Gobnait Moynihan - 2,794, 
• Rosarie O’Leary, Aountu – 588, 
• John O’Sullivan, Sinn Fein – 1,117.

11.35pm -Two elected in Cobh Municipal District

Cobh 

28,604 electorate 

13,021 poll 

106 invalid 

12,915 valid poll 

1,846 quota 

Sitting councillor Fianna Fail’s Sheila O’Callaghan was elected on the first count with 2,202 votes, as was councillor Fine Gael’s Anthony Barry with 1,935.

• People Before Profit’s Rola Abu Zeid-O’Neill, 492, 
• Independent Ireland’s Ger Curley 1,293, 
• Fianna Fail’s Dominic Finn, 940, 
• Independent Peter Kidney 357, 
• Sinn Fein’s Medhi Ozcinar 620, 
• Glor – Voice of the People’s Diarmuid O Cadhla, 559, 
• Green Party’s Cliona O’Halloran, 834, 
• Labour’s Cathal Rasmussen, 1,541 and 
• Fine Gael’s Sinead Sheppard 1,497.

11.15pm - John Paul O'Shea, Fine Gael, elected in Kanturk

It was a family affair for the O’Shea brothers, John Paul and Tony, who have both retained their council seats for Fine Gael in the Kanturk and Mallow electoral areas respectively.

Speaking to The Echo, John Paul O’Shea said he was proud to be able to once again represent the people in the towns and villages across the wider Kanturk area after being reelected on the second count.

“I have worked really hard together for the past five years and it’s great to see they have put their faith in me for another five years,” said Mr O’Shea.

Looking ahead to the next five years, Mr O’Shea said it was vitally important that the towns of Kanturk, Newmarket and Charleville continue to thrive and that all the other villages across the area feed off that.

“I will continue to do my best to ensure that happens,” he pledged.

Mr O’Shea said one of his key priorities is tackling dereliction, which he said was a “key issue in our towns and villages”.

“As a council, this is one of the things that we need to get a grip on and make sure we deliver on. Government has put in place a lot of policies and initiatives in place to make sure we address this issue and bring people back into our towns and villages,” he said.

Mr O’Shea said that on the back on his strong showing in the local elections, he will be seeking a Dáil seat in the Cork North West constituency in the forthcoming general election.

“Absolutely. Deputy Michael Creed is retiring so it will be interesting to see what happens. I ran the last time with Deputy Creed and we had a good day at the office, polling more than 7,000 votes,” said Mr O’Shea.

“A convention will probably take place over the summertime and I will be putting my name forward,” he added.

Meanwhile, Tony O’Shea admitted he was “presently surprised” with his impressive poll topping tally of 2,615 first preference votes, 657 above the quota, in the Mallow electoral area.

“I have worked hard for the past five years so I was hopeful of being in the running for one of the five seats. That said, I was pleasantly surprised at the strength of my vote,” said Mr O’Shea.

He said that working closely with constituents has been key to his reelection.

“I’ve worked closely with people, whether I had good or bad news, I thought it was important to go back to people and stay in touch with them right throughout their queries. I believe people have recognised that, something I think that has been reflected today,” said Mr O’Shea.

“I’m pleased that people have put so much trust in me by giving me their number one vote. To reach more than 2,600 first preference votes is very good, I’m delighted with that.” Looking ahead to the next five years, Mr O’Shea said it was vitally important that the council work towards getting the long-awaited Mallow Relief Road “over the line.” “We need to get the proper funding to bring the project to planning stage by the end of the year.

Like his brother, Mr O’Shea said dereliction was also an issue that needed to be urgently addressed.

“That is one of my key priorities. We have a lot of dereliction, not just in Mallow town but across the area,” said Mr O’Shea.

“There are good grants available to do these properties up, so there is no excuse in my eyes to have these properties idle today when we have such a big housing crisis.”

Kanturk second count:

Distribution of Bernard Moynihan’s 746 surplus votes.

• Ted Bradley (Green Party): + 4. Total 158 Finnbarr Cronin (Ind): +72. - Total 581 
• Ian Doyle (FF): + 196. Total – 1,396.
• Becky Kealy (Aontu): + 81. – Total 1,034 
• Trish Murphy (FG): + 195. Total 2,232 
• Brendan O’Connor (Ind Ire): + 6. Total - 404 
• Evelyn O’Keeffe (SF): + 14. Total - 550 John Paul O’Shea (FG) + 171. Total 2,356 
• Andrew Ring (Soc Dems) + 7. Total 423 

Having passed the quota of 2,284 sitting councillor John Paul O’Shea is deemed to be elected.

11.10pm - Seamus McGrath 'genuinely humbled'

After what seemed the longest wait, the re-election of Seamus McGrath, brother of Finance Minister Michael, with the highest first preference vote in the country, 5,191 votes, was greeted with a tired round of applause.

The Fianna Fáil candidate in the Carrigaline Municipal District was joined in the winner’s enclosure by fellow councillor, Ben Dalton O’Sullivan whose no poster campaign netted him 2,315 first preferences. The quota for Carrigaline was 2057.

Both were delighted to retain their seats on Cork County Council.

Mr. McGrath, who was leader of the Fianna Fáil contingent on the outgoing council, made no mention of his 3,000 vote surplus as he thanked the voters of Carrigaline for returning him to the Council chamber.

“It’s been a long day,” he said. “I’m genuinely humbled by the support I’ve received and I obviously want to thank whoever supported me for putting their trust in me once again.” 

For Ben Dalton O’Sullivan, it was no less of a triumph. “I ran a no-poster campaign and I’m really delighted with the result - I didn’t expect it but I’m really delighted to be returning to Cork County Council to work for the people of Carrigaline once again.” The next operation will be the distribution of the surplus of Seamus McGrath.

11.05PM - Fianna Fáil's Seamus McGrath elected in Carrigaline

Carrigaline 

30,679 electorate 

14,495 poll 

100 invalid 

14,395 valid poll 

2,057 quota 

• Fianna Fail’s Audrey Buckley 967, 
• Independent Ben Dalton O’Sullivan 2,315, 
• Sinn Fein’s Eoghan Fahy 1,535, 
• Fine Gael’s Una McCarthy 1,092, 
• Fianna Fail’s Seamus McGrath 5,191, 
• Independent Chris O’Brien 541, 
• Labour’s John O’Regan 361, 
• Sinn Fein’s Monica Oikeh 550, 
• Social Democrats Richard Terry 455, 
• Fine Gael’s Jack White 1570

10.30PM - Three elected in Mallow

THE first count for the Mallow local electoral area (LEA) saw sitting Fine Gael councillor Tony O’Shea re-elected to Cork County Council on 2,615 first preference votes, 657 votes above the quota of 1,958.

This was followed by the re-election of sitting Fine Gael councillor Liam Madden, who was elected on 2,571 votes, 613 votes above quota, and the Labour Party’s first-time candidate Eoghan Kenny, who was elected on 2,239 first preference votes, 281 votes above quota.

Speaking to The Echo following the announcement, Mr O’Shea said: “I’m feeling wonderful, absolutely delighted.

“Five years ago I got the last seat here, and I am thrilled to bits to be getting the first seat this year.” “To get over two and a half thousand first preference votes is an achievement in my eyes,” he added.

Mallow Counts 

Electorate: 23,585 

Votes Cast: 11,852 

Spoiled Votes: 105 

Valid Poll: 11,747 

Quota: 1,958 

FIRST COUNT

Ross Cannon (TIP) - 322 

David Curry (Soc Dems) - 233 

Pat Hayes (FF) – 1,076 

Eoghan Kenny (Lab) - 2,239 

Liam Madden (FG) – 2,571 

Paul McNally (Green Party) - 134 

Gearoid Murphy (FF) – 1,329 

Melissa O’Brien (SF) – 866 

Tony O’Shea (FG) – 2,615 

Paddy Scully (Aontu) – 362 

As Tony O’Shea, Liam Madden (both sitting councillors) and Eoghan Kenny exceeded the quota they have been deemed to be elected.

Tony O’Shea’s surplus of 657 votes are now being distributed.

9.12PM

Kanturk LEA:

Electorate: 21,479 Votes Cast: 11,522 Spoiled Votes: 104 Valid Poll: 11,418 Quota: 2,284 

 Ted Bradley (Green Party) - 154 

Finnbarr Cronin (Ind) - 509 

Ian Doyle (FF) – 1,200 

Becky Kealy (Aontu) - 953 

Bernard Moynihan (FF) – 3,030 

Trish Murphy (FG) - 2,037 

Brendan O’Connor (Ind Ire) - 398 

Evelyn O’Keeffe (SF) - 536 

John Paul O’Shea (FG) - 2,185 

Andrew Ring (Soc Dems) – 416 

As Bernard Moynihan exceeded the quota he is elected and retains his seat.

His surplus of 746 votes are now being distributed.

9.10PM - John O'Sullivan, Sinn Féin, Macroom

8.45PM - ADJUDICATION UNDERWAY IN MALLOW

THE adjudication process has begun at the Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services (CDYS) Centre in Mallow sorting spoiled ballot papers for the Cork County Council local elections.

Candidates were called on stage to contest any contentious votes, with the first count expected shortly after this process has been completed.

8.22PM - COUNTY HALL TALLIES

THE votes cast in the Macroom Municipal District had just begun to be counted around 7.10pm but the comprehensive tallies early in the day meant that the tension you’d expect at a count centre was absent even before the results of the first count would be declared.

It’s been far from a relaxing campaign, however, for the candidates and Municipal District Council chairman, Ted Lucey of Fine Gael, admitted that the canvass hadn’t all been smooth sailing.

“The reception was good – we didn’t seem to meet the anger there we had five years ago, people seemed to be much happier,” he said. “No doubt we got a bit of a scolding on the doors but, overall, it was very acceptable.

The councillor identified the N22 between Macroom and Cork and the back road between Crookstown and Killumney as the main issues raised with him on the doors where he was canvassing, mainly east of the town.

He also said he and the other Fine Gael candidates, Michael Creed and Eileen Lynch, had reason to be thankful that the area had been the beneficiary of major investment during the last term due, he pointed out, the presence of a Minister, Michael Creed TD in the constituency and the investment that came to the area during his time at the Cabinet table.

The Fianna Fáil councillor, Michael Looney, who also had an impressive showing in the tally, was delighted with his showing. “It’s a great day for me and it’s a great day for Fianna Fáil in Macroom because it looks like Gobnait Moynihan will top the poll and Michael Creed will be second and I will come in third,” he said.

“A lot of work has been put in and it looks like it’s all paying off now.” 

Five of the six sitting councillors seemed assured of retaining their seats, based on the early tally. These are – Michael Creed (2555), Ted Lucey (2025) and Eileen Lynch (2330) of Fine Gael as well as Michael Looney (2484) and Gobnait Moynihan (2746) of Fianna Fáil.

There looks like there will be a battle for the sixth seat as Martin Coughlan, the incumbent independent councillor, faces off with Dermot Kelleher, the first time Independent Ireland candidate. According to the tally Martin Coughlan has an edge, 1445 votes, against Dermot Kelleher’s total of 1300 votes.

“Looking at the canvass and who might be eliminated, it might come in my favour,” said Martin Coughlan, who admitted that his vote was down on his showing in 2019.

For Dermot Kelleher, who decided to stand for Independent Ireland because of a long standing friendship with that party’s leader, Michael Collins, was widowed last year and was happy with his showing first time out. The canvass had gone well but, as he said himself, half those he had canvassed hadn’t voted. This was a reference to the turnout of little more than more 50%.

He was in good form after the canvass. “I remember an old man telling me one time that one half of the people may be lying to you while the other half may not be telling you the truth.” Regarding the battle between himself and Martin Coughlan for the last seat: “It’s all up in the air,” he said.