Live: North West and North East Cork city electoral areas see first councillors elected
Damian Boylan, Fine Gael is elected at Cork City Hall. Pic Larry Cummins
THE first councillor to be declared elected in the Cork City Council local elections has said he intends to run for Dáil Éireann in the next general election.
With a valid vote of 12,269 in the six-seat Cork City North West ward, Fianna Fáil’s councillor Tony Fitzgerald topped the poll with a vote of 1,930, and was declared elected on the first count just after 10.30pm in City Hall.
His election was quickly followed by that of Fine Gael’s Damian Boylan, who was deemed elected on the first count with a vote of 1,872.
Both men were hoisted onto the shoulders of their supporters, with chants of “Boylan, Boylan” narrowly drowned out by a chorus of “Tony, Tony” led by Mr Fitzgerald’s four-year-old grandson Eoin White.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Fitzgerald became emotional, and said he was thinking about his 91-year-old mother, who had gone home earlier, and his father who had passed away two years ago during the Covid-19 pandemic The former lord mayor thanked the people of the north-west for their votes, and his family and political party for their support.
“This was a very, very difficult, challenging election, with a lot of candidates pushed into my own parish to try and bring me down, but it didn’t happen, and tonight I think the people have responded in the north-west ward to the work that I’ve done over the last five years and indeed over the last 20 years,” he said.
He said the next council would face many challenges, and the new city would be the northside as it expanded, and he pledged that he and his party colleagues would work hard to ensure infrastructure spending was put in place for that expansion.
He said the biggest issue on the doorsteps in his ward had been water quality, an important public health issue which he said needed to be addressed urgently by Uisce Éireann.
“I’ve met a lot of people who had medical issues on this, it is an issue, it’s dipping into their disposable income, and it’s something that has to be rectified,” he said.
Housing maintenance had been an issue raised on the doorsteps too, he said, and work was needed to be done with City Hall’s housing department, while public transport was something which needed to be addressed in the area.
Asked whether he would consider a run for Dáil Éireann, Mr Fitzgerald checked to see whether his wife, Georgina, was within earshot before saying it was his ambition to do so.
Mr Fitzgerald said that while he doesn’t drink, some of his supporters would be having “a few scoops”, and he intended to be back in the count centre the next day to support his party colleague Dr John Sheehan.
After Mr Fitzgerald had finished speaking with reporters, he was approached by his ward colleagues, Sinn Féin councillors Mick Nugent and Kenneth Collins, both of whom he warmly embraced.
Mr Boylan said that the previous five years had been very tough, but to get the vote he had done had been “outstanding” , he told .
“I’m delighted for myself, I’m delighted for my family and for my supporters and for the people of the North West who put their faith in me five years ago and who feel that they’ve got enough faith in me to let me run again.” Mr Boylan said his priorities for the next council term include the provision of additional housing and improved infrastructure.
After more than an eight hour wait to get the result, he was planning a modest celebration on Saturday night.
“I think we’ll go home and have one pint, but at this stage, I think it’s sleep,” the Blarney-based councillor said.
The first candidates have been elected to the North East ward.
Ken O’Flynn from Independent Ireland topped the poll with 3,134 votes, exceeding the quota of 1,984.
📢Election Result - North East LEA
— Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) June 8, 2024
On the first count @jmaher0 (Lab) and Kenneth O’ Flynn (Indl) have been elected.#elections2024 #corkcityne pic.twitter.com/lVfTGUK1Li
John Maher from the Labour Party was elected with 2,005 votes.
The total electorate for the ward was 32,628.
Counting has concluded in the ward for the night and will resume at 10am.
THE first candidates have been elected to Cork City Council more than seven hours after the counting of votes got underway.
Damian Boylan and Tony Fitzgerald have been elected in Cork North West.
📢Election Result- Cork City North West
— Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) June 8, 2024
On the first count Damian Boylan -Fine Gael and Tony Fitzgerald- Fianna Fáil have been elected. #corkcitynw #elections2024 pic.twitter.com/FvMdOYPy7h
Crowds began to gather at City Hall shortly after 2pm to witness the sorting and counting of votes.
Among those in attendance were members of the public, candidates and their families, and public representatives.
Counting commenced just before 3pm with returning officer, Paul Moynihan, saying members elected onto the new city council will need to “seize the opportunities” and face the challenges the city is experiencing with the commitment “that our great city deserves”.
First count of night in #corkcity is north west LEA and sees @DamianBoylanFG & @Tfitzgeraldcork elected #LocalElections2024 pic.twitter.com/STw5wT1Uld
— Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) June 8, 2024
In a brief speech addressing those assembled in the Concert Hall before the ballot boxes were opened, Mr Moynihan said Cork has been designated by Government as the fastest growing urban centre in Ireland supported by a multi-billion euro investment by Government.
“Our city is changing,” Mr Moynihan said, adding that opportunities and challenges need to be met with vigour.
Counting has now closed for the night at City Hall and will recommence tomorrow morning at 10am.
The first candidate elected to the North West ward was Damian Boylan with 1,872 votes.
The total electorate for the ward was 30,018 with and the quota was 1,753.
Tony Fitzgerald was also elected on the first count with 1,930 votes.
Mr Boylan said:
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