Cobh recount set for County Hall on Monday
New councillor Patrick Mulcahy, Fianna Fáil who was elected to the Midleton Local Electoral Area at the County Hall. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
The final three candidates have been elected in the Midleton/East Cork LEA, with the fourth and final incumbent hanging onto her seat.
Fianna Fail’s Ann Marie Ahern was elected on the twelfth count with 1,468 votes, gaining 140 from Mona Stromsoe’s transfers.
Ms Ahern joins new candidate for her party Patrick Mulcahy, who was elected on the previous count and will be one of three newcomers.
Fine Gael’s Rory Cocking and Independent John Buckley were both elected on the twelfth count, with 1,835 and 1,468 votes respectively, getting 101 and 289 transfer votes.
Fine Gael’s Alison Curtin was not elected, ending with 1,417 votes after gaining 71 transfers, leaving her after ending up 51 votes shy of Ms Ahern.
Ahern, Cocking and Buckley will join Mulcahy, Independent Mary Linehan Foley, Fine Gael’s Michael Hegarty and Social Democrats Liam Quaide on the seven seater LEA.
In East Cork, there are four candidates still in the race to win three seats as votes from Aontu’s Mona Stromsoe are being distributed, with the council likely to have three or four new faces.
Independent Mary Linehan Foley and Fine Gael’s Michael Hegarty topped the poll, reaching the quota of 2,026 on the first count.
They will be joined by their fellow incumbent councillor Liam Quaide of the Social Democrats and newcomer Patrick Mulcahy of Fianna Fáil, both of whom were elected tonight at the 9th and 11th counts.
The fourth sitting councillor who sought re-election, Fianna Fáil's Ann Marie Ahern is currently on 1,328 seats and it will be tight between herself and Fine Gael’s Alison Curtin, currently on 1,346 and waiting to see which way unpredictable Aontu transfer votes go after Stromsoe’s elimination.
Fine Gael are likely to see at least one of veteran Hegarty’s first-time running mates elected, with Rory Cocking on 1,771 votes.
Independent John Buckley, on 1,546, is likely to take the sixth seat, leaving Ahern and Curtin to battle it out, with the election of Cocking possibly swinging the tide in Curtin’s favour as she could stand to gain significant transfer votes from her party colleague.
Patrick Mulcahy, a first-time Fianna Fáil candidate has become the fourth person to be elected in the East Cork/Midleton LEA.
He joins Mary Linihan Foley (Ind), Michael Hegarty (FG) and Liam Quaide (SD) on the seven seater constituency.
Mr Mulcahy works as a parliamentary assistant to Cork East TD James O’Connor, who said he was “absolutely delighted,” as he brought Patrick into the party, and they are from the same parish “He’s somebody that a lot of people were very happy to give their support to because he’s a community driven person.”
He added that they were in “a bit of a fight for the second seat,” and that it would be tight between Councillor Ann Marie Ahern and a Fine Gael candidate, but said that overall for Fianna Fáil in East Cork “it’s been a really good day, we’ve held and we’ve actually grown.”
Aontu's Mona Stromsoe has been eliminated, and her 1103 votes will now be distributed among Fianna Fail's Ann Marie Ahern (1,328), Independent John Buckley (1,546), Fine Gael's Rory Cocking (1,771) and Alison Curtin (1,346).
ON the ninth and final count for the Fermoy local electoral area (LEA), announced shortly before 9pm, two new candidates were elected to Cork County Council.
This count saw the election of Fianna Fail’s Neilus Cotter and Independent Peter O’Donoghue without reaching the quota.
Speaking to The Echo, Mr Cotter said: “It’s an indescribable feeling.
“It’s been six hard weeks of hard work, and obviously I was added late to the ticket so its extra special.
"On the campaign trail housing, waste treatment infrastructure and agriculture are a big one. I want to be an unapologetic advocate for farmers.” “I’m the youngest candidate elected to the Fermoy LEA and I think I’ll bring a fresh perspective,” he added.
“Its fantastic,” said Mr O’Donoghue. “I’m delighted.” “I want to bring accountability back to the council, we need to elect people who represent the country and that’s what I intend to do.” Mr Cotter and Mr O’Donoghue beat out the Labour Party’s Diarmuid Hanley by a margin of 42 votes.
There followed a discussion between Mr Hanley’s team and returning officer Rose Carroll about a potential recount, which was subsequently ruled out.
No new candidates have been elected in Midleton on the twelfth count, with four of seven seats still up for grabs.
Sinn Fein's Edith Adams has been eliminated and her 919 votes will be distributed among Fianna Fail's Ann Marie Ahern (1,267), Independent John Buckley (1,352), Fine Gael's Rory Cocking (1,707) and Alison Curtin (1,301), Fianna Fail's Patrick Mulcahy (1,986) and Aontu's Mona Stromsoe (981).
The count is set to continue for however long it takes to finish.
Mary Linihan Foley (Ind), Michael Hegarty (FG) and Liam Quaide (SD) have been elected.
Marie O’Sullivan and Gillian Coughlan elected in Bandon Kinsale The final two seats have been filled in the Bandon Kinsale LEA in west Cork. On the eighth count Fianna Fáil’s Gillian Coughlan and Fine Gael’s Marie O’Sullivan were elected.
This completes the counting for the six-seat LEA.
The final two seats have been filled in the Bantry West Cork LEA in west Cork. On the eighth count Fianna Fáil’s Patrick Gerard Murphy and Fine Gael’s Caroline Cronin were elected.
This completes the counting for the four-seat LEA.
Social Democrats councillor Liam Quaide has been elected to the Midleton/East Cork LEA on the 11th count, the third person to get elected in the seven seater constituency.
He attended the count centre with wife Roisin and daughter Bláithín, who dressed in a purple Social Democrats t-shirt.
Mr Quaide told The Echo, “I'm honoured to be re-elected. I think it shows that people value someone who will represent them with determination, and I have shown that with my campaign for the Owencurra Centre and environmental campaigns with communities in East Ferry, Ballymacoda and Leamlara.”
He said that winning a seat was "a testament to the fact that we have a really dynamic and committed group of local Social Democrats coming together in East Cork. I think it’s a really exciting time for the party in general.”
His surplus will now be distributed between Adams (905), Ahern (1,253), J Buckley (1,332) Cocking (1,689), Curtin (1,298), Mulcahy (1,977) and Stromsoe (965).
Fianna Fail’s Dominic Finn has just beaten the Green Party’s Cliona O’Halloran to the final seat in the Cobh LEA by just seven seats in the eleventh count, but a recount might be incoming.
After being slightly behind Mr Finn initially, a transfer of Labour councillor Cathal Rasmussen’s seats saw Ms O’Halloran rise to 1,369 votes, just behind Finn’s 1,376.
Ms O’Halloran told The Echo that she will ask for a recount given the closeness of the vote between the two first time candidates.
THE eighth count for the Fermoy local electoral area (LEA) was announced at 7.20pm, which saw the re-election of sitting Fianna Fáil councillor Deirdre O’Brien.
Speaking to The Echo, Ms O’Brien said: “I’m delighted, it’s a great day for Fianna Fáil.
“I’m the only Mitchelstown based councillor now, so I want to see the betterment of the town. I want to get a wastewater treatment plant up, get houses built in Mitchelstown, get infrastructure looking better and my big project is the FCA Hall.
“I’m very much a Mitchelstown person and I won’t let go on that one. I’m never afraid of a challenge.”
This leaves two remaining seats to be obtained for the Fermoy LEA.
Fermoy Distribution of Kay Dawson’s 1,325 votes.
- Neilus Cotter: (FF) : + 208. Total 1,903
- Diarmuid Hanley (Lab) - +256. Total 1,625.
- Deirdre O’Brien (FF): +467. Total 2,795.
- Peter O’Donoghue (Ind): +94.
- Total 1,742
- Non transferable – 300.
Deirdre O’Brien, elected having exceeded the quota.
Deirdre O’Brien (437) and Frank O’Flynn’s (24) surplus now being redistributed.
A second Social Democrats councillor has been elected in west Cork with Ann Bambury taking a set in the Bandon Kinsale Local Electoral Area. She exceeded the quota of 2,379 on the seventh count to take the fourth seat.
Ms Bambury said: “I’m phenomenally happy, really really happy with my first preference ands my overall vote. Polling in the top four for a first time candidate in our area against the bigger parties is a great achievement. I hope to bring a community spirited vibe to Cork County Council, I really want to highlight community projects, community will be my top priority.”
Cobh's tenth count has seen Ger Curley's surplus distributed but no new candidates elected.
Dominic Finn of Fianna Fail is in the lead at 1,362, while Green's Cliona O'Halloran is close behind at 1,318, as the two first time candidates wait for the surplus from Labour's Cathal Rasmussen to be distributed to see who will take the sixth and final seat.
No elections from Midleton’s tenth count, with five of seven seats remaining to be filled and nobody appointed since Lenihan Foley and Hegarty on Saturday night.
Liam Quaide is on 2,007 votes, just 19 away from the quota, while Patrick Mulcahy is 90 away on 1,936.
Independent Ireland’s Eileen Kelly McCarthy has been eliminated, and her 834 votes will be split between the two frontrunners, as well as Adams, Ahern, Buckley, Cocking, Curtin and Stromsoe.
Independent candidate Finbarr Harrington has been elected in the Bantry West Cork LEA on the seventh count.
Mr Harrington famously lost a recount in 2009 buy a single vote to Holly Cairns who went on to become the leader of the Social Democrats.
There were no such problems this time out for the Beara Peninsula based campaigner who came second in the first count with 1,870 votes.
Mr Harrington said: “I’m absolutely overwhelmed, delighted and privileged that so many people put their trust in me and their faith in me in this election.
Fine Gael candidate John Michael Foley has been elected in west Cork’s Bandon Kinsale LEA on the sixth count. Mr Foley exceeded the quota of 2,379 with a vote of 2,527.
He said: “I’m overwhelmed by the support I got on my first time out. I certainly didn’t expect to be over 2,000 votes. I got overwhelming support locally and votes in every box across the district which is really overwhelming. I will do my best to look after the people who have put their trust in me.”
The ninth count in Cobh has seen two elections - Ger Curley of Independent Ireland with 2,001, and sitting Labour councillor Cathal Rasmussen with 1,924.
Curley, a first time candidate, told The Echo that he was delighted with his and his party’s success.
“I was initially going to run as an Independent, but when I read up about Michael Collins and what he was doing I thought I would need a bit of backing if I did get elected, and it’s definitely progressive, with no whip system, it could be the future of Irish politics.”
Mr Rasmussen said, “I’m thrilled, it was a bit of a long wait but I was confident from the tallies yesterday, even though Cobh is difficult to get elected from because we have so many good candidates.
Curley's surplus, the largest, will now be distributed between two first time candidates: Green Party's Cliona O'Halloran (1,264) and Fianna Faáil's Dominic Finn (1,338) to see who will take the final seat.
The seventh count for the Fermoy local electoral area (LEA) was announced at 5.50pm and saw the surprise elimination of Fine Gael’s Kay Dawson.
There were no candidates deemed to be elected on this count, with four remaining candidates - Fianna Fáil councillors Deirdre O’Brien and Neilus Cotter, Independent Peter O’Donoghue, and the Labour Party’s Diarmuid Hanley – in the fight for the three available seats.
Ms O’Brien looks set to take the next seat, with a close call between Mr Cotter and Mr O’Donoghue for the two following.
Distribution of Derek Blighe’s 1,158 votes.
- Neilus Cotter: (FF) : + 88. Total 1,695.
- Kay Dawson (FG): +28. Total 1,325.
- Diarmuid Hanley (Lab) - +80. Total 1,369.
- Deirdre O’Brien (FF): +83. Total 2,328.
- Peter O’Donoghue (Ind): +367. Total 1,648.
- Non transferable – 512
No candidate reached the 2,358 quota.
Frank O’Flynn’s surplus of 24 still not enough to either elect or eliminate a candidate.
Kay Dawson eliminated. Her 1,325 surplus is now being redistributed.
One of the two Independent Buckleys has been eliminated from the East Cork/Midleton on the ninth count, but nine candidates are still battling it out for five seats.
Aiming to join Lenihan Foley and Hegarty are Edith Adams (SF) on 836, John Buckley (Ind) on 994, Rory Cocking (FG) on 1,506, Alison Curtin (FG) ON 1,239, Eileen Kelly McCarthy (II) on 799, Patrick Mulcahy (FF) 1,897, Liam Quaide (SD) on 1,923, and Mona Stromsoe (AON) on 808.
Sean Buckley becomes the latest candidate to be eliminated, with his votes to be distributed – a large percentage of Ireland First’s Paddy Bullman’s votes were non transferrable, though some were given to the Independent Ireland and Aontu candidates.
Sinn Féin’s Medhi Ozcinar has been eliminated from the Cobh vote, and his 894 votes will be distributed among the four candidates remaining and trying to win three seats.
Independent Ireland’s Ger Curley is in the lead on 1,784, while sitting Labour councillor Cathal Rasmussen is just behind at 1,782, with Fianna Fail’s Dominic Finn (1,299) and the Green’s Cliona O’Halloran (1,116) set to battle it out once Ozcinar’s votes are transferred.
Ms O’Halloran told The Echo it was very tense waiting for the count to finish, saying: “I wasn’t expecting this waiting this morning, I was expecting to not get a seat,” and adding there was no way of knowing which way the transfers from the Sinn Féin candidate would go, as “the votes in general have been very scattered.”
“Either way, I’m delighted with the result, so happy - as first time candidate and a green in a rural area, but the Greens have done a lot better than expected in rural areas and are topping polls in Dublin.”
THE sixth count for the Fermoy local electoral area (LEA) took place 4.40pm, and saw the elimination of Ireland First’s Derek Blighe.
There were no candidates deemed to be elected on this count, with sitting Fianna Fáil councillor Deirdre O’Brien a mere 113 votes off the quota.
It is likely that Ms O’Brien will be deemed to be elected on the seventh count, leaving four remaining candidates to fight for two available seats.
Distribution of Joe O’Brien’s 853 surplus.
- Derek Blighe (IF): +88. Total 1,158.
- Neilus Cotter: (FF) : + 59. Total 1,607.
- Kay Dawson (FG): +43. Total 1,297.
- Diarmuid Hanley (Lab) - +164. Total 1,289.
- Deirdre O’Brien (FF): +114. Total 2,245.
- Peter O’Donoghue (Ind): +89. Total 1,281.
- Non transferable – 296.
No candidate reached the 2,358 quota.
Frank O’Flynn’s surplus of 24 still not enough to either elect or eliminate a candidate.
Derek Blighe eliminated. His 1,158 surplus now being redistributed,
It took seven counts but, finally, the final results were declared in Macroom and Carrigaline within minutes of each other in County Hall.
For the mid Cork electoral area, the election of Ted Lucey of Fine Gael in fifth place and Martin Coughlan in the final seat completed the return of the entire slate of outgoing councillors while, in Carrigaline, the election of Sinn Féin’s Eoghan Fahy, taking the seat previously held by Marcia D’Alton, the independent councillor, meant there was one new face representing the district on the benches of Cork County Council.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic, one of the best days of my life – other than my son being born, today is one of the best days I’ve ever had,” said the newly elected Sinn Féin councillor, the only representative of the party to be elected to Cork County Council in this year’s election.
A sixth Midleton count shortly after the fifth has again brought no elections – Paddy Bullman of Ireland First has been knocked out.
Patrick Mulcahy (FF) stands at 1,885, where he has been overtaken by Liam Quaide (SD) who stands at 1,901 after getting a significant of transfers following the elimination of Clodagh Harrington, a member of the Green Party which he used to belong to.
Racing to meet the 2,026 quota and fill the remaining five seats are Edith Adams (SF) is on 805, Ann Marie Ahern (FF) 1132, John Buckley (Ind) 946, Sean Buckley (Ind) 723, Rory Cocking (FG) 1,502, Alison Curtin (FG) 1,176, Eileen Kelly McCarthy (II) 694, and Mona Stromsoe (AON) at 751.
THE seventh count for the Mallow local electoral area (LEA) was announced at 4.10pm, wrapping up the remaining available seat with sitting Fianna Fail councillor Pat Hayes deemed to be elected.
Speaking to The Echo, Mr Hayes said: “I’m absolutely over the moon.
“It’s been a tough campaign, we’ve been out there for the last twelve weeks and we’ve had a great response.
“I’d like to commiserate with those who lost out, they deserve a great credit for putting themselves out there. It’s not easy.
“The issues we met on the doorsteps were local, with roads, public lighting, and housing, and we will work hard in the council to improve and progress those.”
It's as you were in the Mallow LEA with the five incumbents re-elected to Cork County Council.
Redistribution of Ross Cannon and Paddy Scully’s 871 votes.
- Pat Hayes (FF): +164. Total 1,861.
- Melisa O’Brien (SF) +197. Total 1,402.
- Non transferable votes – 510.
Pat Hayes duly elected without reaching the quota as he was the remaining candidate with the highest tally of votes.
Things are moving slowly in the Midleton/East Cork constituency, with only a small number of votes from Irish People candidate James O’Sullivan resulting in no elections after the fifth count.
Still in the running to join Mary Linehan Foley and Michael Hegarty, who were elected on the first count last night, are sitting councillors Social Democrats’ Liam Quaide on 1,726 and Fianna Fáil’s Ann Marie Ahern on 1,108.
Fianna Fáil candidate Patrick Mulcahy is closest to the 2,026 quota at 1,863, but received just 17 votes from O’Sullivan’s transfers, followed by Quaide who picked up just 26.
72 were non transferrable, and the majority of the remainder went to Ireland First’s Paddy Bullman, with the 53 votes taking him to 514, while Green Party’s Clodagh Harrington got 7 votes from the transfers, taking her to 414 which resulted in her elimination.
Remaining hopefuls aside from Quaide, Mulcahy and Ahern are Fine Gael’s Rory Cocking is up to 1,460, his colleague Alison Curtin to 1,140, Eileen Kelly McCarthy of Independent Ireland up to 682, Sinn Féin’s Edith Adams 774, Independent John Buckley 939 , Independent Sean Buckley 715.
THE fifth count for the Fermoy local electoral area (LEA) took place 3.40pm, and saw the elimination of Sinn Fein’s Joe O’Brien.
There were no candidates deemed to be elected on this count, but sitting Fianna Fail councillor Deirdre O’Brien will likely be elected in the next round following the distribution of Mr O'Brien's votes.
This leaving five candidates vying for the remaining two seats in the Fermoy LEA.
Distribution of Frank Roche’s votes.
- Derek Blighe (|IF): +69. Total 1,070
- Neilus Cotter: (FF) : + 157. Total 1,548.
- Kay Dawson (FG): +55. Total 1,254
- Diarmuid Hanley (Lab) - +30. Total 1,125.
- Deirdre O’Brien (FF): +140. Total 2,131.
- Joe O’Brien (SF): +48 Total 853.
- Peter O’Donoghue (Ind): +97. Total 1,192.
- Non transferable votes – 137.
No quota reached by any candidate.
Frank O’Flynn’s surplus of 24 will neither elect or eliminate a candidate.
Joe O’Brien eliminated and his surplus of 853 is being redistributed.
It’s getting close to crunch time in Carrigaline as Úna McCarthy was returned to fill the penultimate seat in the municipality following the sixth count, leaving one remaining to be filled and only one candidate likely to take the vacancy.
The 522 votes of John O’Regan were distributed, giving the Fine Gael councillor 144 votes which put her over the quota of 2,057 votes.
This leaves Eoghan Fahy of Sinn Féin in a commanding position to take the final seat – and the party’s only seat in Cork County Council - as he is on 1,747 votes and his nearest competitor, Monica Oikeh of the Green Party, is on 965.
It is likely that it will take a number of counts, however, to finally seal the deal for the Sinn Féin councillor as the process now underway in Carrigaline is the distribution of the 857 votes of non party candidate, Chris O’Brien.
Sitting councillor Sinéad Sheppard has retained her seat in Cobh, with the former member of pop band Six being elected on the seventh count.
Ms Sheppard told The Echo that she was “absolutely elated,” saying “this is my fourth election – the waiting never gets any easier and the joy still feels as good this time around as it did the first time.
“To be honest, I’m extremely humbled by my vote, I never take that for granted,” she added.
She is the third councillor to be elected, alongside her party and ward colleague Anthony Barry and Fianna Fáil's Sheila O'Callaghan, who both met the 2,026 quota on the first count.
Their fellow sitting councillor Cathal Rasmussen of the Labour party sits on 1,752, with Independent Ireland’s Ger Curley on 1,773 and new Fianna Fáil candidate Dominic Finn on 1,208.
Also still in the race but unlikely to make sufficient gains from her small surplus of 270 are Green Party’s Cliona O’Halloran at 1,075 and Sinn Féin’s Medhi Ozcnar at 891.
The sixth count for the Mallow local electoral area (LEA) took place at 3.10pm, and saw the re-election of sitting Fianna Fáil councillor Gearoid Murphy, who was stood hand in hand with his long-term partner, Lizzy MacKenzie.
Speaking to The Echo, Mr Murphy said: “It’s really humbling to have the trust placed in me by the electorate for another five years.
“Humbling really is the primary emotion, and I am looking forward to making the council work for the people.
“It’s all about doing the basics right,” he added.
He cited a number of his key priorities for the coming council term.
“The Mallow Relief Road is so important and I plan to continue working for that, and for greater funding for other projects like the Cork to Limerick motorway and dereliction in Mallow town.
“We got there,” he said. “It’s great to have the support of my friends, family and all of the people who voted for me.”
“I am delighted for him,” said Ms MacKenzie. “He’s worked very hard for it, and it’s great to see that reflected.”
This count also saw the elimination of both Aontu’s Paddy Scully and Irish People’s Ross Cannon.
Mallow sixth count
- Ross Cannon (TIP): + 14. Total 389.
- Pat Hayes (FF) : + 38. Total 1,697.
- Gearoid Murphy (FF) : +60. Total 1,971.
- Melissa O’Brien (SF) : +105. Total: 1,205.
- Paddy Scully (Aontu): + 28. Total 482.
- Not transferable – 88.
Having reached the 1,958 quota, Gearoid Murphy is deemed to be elected.
Gearoid Murphy’s surplus of 13 not transferable.
Ross Cannon and Paddy Scully eliminated and their combined surplus of 871 now being redistributed.
Cobh’s sixth count has finished, with still no councillors elected since Fianna Fáil's Sheila O’Callaghan and Fine Gael's Anthony Barry last night.
Fine Gael’s third candidate, Keith Kelly, has now been eliminated, with his 733 votes to be distributed and likely to put the party’s second sitting councillor, Sinead Sheppard, over the line, as she currently sits just less than a hundred shy of the 1,846 quota at 1,755.
Also in the race for the remaining four seats are Independent Ireland’s Ger Curley at 1739, sitting Labour councillor Cathal Rasmussen at 1,709, Fianna Fáil first-timer Dominic Finn at 1,125, Green’s Cliona O’Halloran at 1,029, and Sinn Féin’s Medhi Ozcinar at 872.
The fifth count for the Mallow LEA took place at 2.15pm, and saw the elimination of Social Democrats candidate, David Curry.
This count leaves sitting Fianna Fáil councillor Gearoid Murphy on the cusp of re-election, a mere 47 votes short of the quota.
It is likely that Mr Murphy and his colleague Pat Hayes will fill the final two seats for the MD.
Distribution of Paul McNally’s surplus of 57.
- Ross Cannon (TIP): + 2. Total 375.
- David Curry (Soc Dems): + 34. Total 333.
- Pat Hayes (FF) : + 30. Total 1,659.
- Gearoid Murphy (FF) : +37 Total 1,911.
- Melissa O’Brien (SF) : +23. Total: 1,100.
- Paddy Scully (Aontu): + 16. Total 454.
- Non transferable – 41.
No candidate has reached the 1,958 quota.
No surplus votes to be taken into consideration.
David Curry eliminated and his 333 surplus now being redistributed.
Fine Gael’s Noel O’Donovan is the first candidate to be elected for the Skibbereen West Cork MD. The former garda topped the poll on the first count and was elected on the fourth count, exceeding the quota of 2,531.
Mr O’Donovan said:
Outgoing County Mayor, and Fianna Fáil councillor FrankO'Flynn has been re-elected in the Fermoy MD.
He retained his seat in the Fermoy electoral area on the fourth count after reaching the quota of 2,358.
The current Mayor of County Cork, Mr O’Flynn was clearly relieved he has not fallen victim to what he described as “the mayor’s curse.”
“I want to thank the people of the Fermoy/Mitchelstown area for returning me as their councillor. I received a tremendous vote and am delighted to be at the head of the Fianna Fáil team.”
Mr O’Flynn said that while conscious of the ‘mayor’s curse’, wearing the mayoral chain during election year had raised his profile.
“No doubt about it. I’ve had an extremely busy year attending events across the county. I found that at every door I went to people knew me,” he said.
“The word is out there that Frank O’Flynn is a very hard worker, someone who works for the community and I am seen as someone who looks after everyone, regardless of their politics.”
Now going into his 26th year as a Cork county councillor, it was evident Mr O’Flynn has lost none of the drive that first got him elected to the local authority more than a quarter of a century ago.
“I was elected first in 1999 and still love every second of every hour of everyday. Even in 2009 when there was a wipeout of Fianna Fáil councillors, I survived. I put it down to hard work,” said Mr O’Flynn.
“It’s not just the hard work of the past few months canvassing or even the past five years. It’s been the hard work of the past 26 years, which showed on the polls. People voted on my record in this election. My next election starts today.”
This count also saw the elimination of sitting Independent councillor Frank Roche.
Distribution of 566 votes from Ken Brennan, Thomas Horgan, Mary Ryder and Joe Tobin.
- Derek Blighe (IF): +50. Total 1,001.
- Neilus Cotter: (FF) : + 157. Total 1,391.
- Kay Dawson (FG): +42. Total 1,199.
- Diarmuid Hanley (Lab) - +108. Total 1,095.
- Deirdre O’Brien (FF): +28. Total 1,991.
- Joe O’Brien (SF): +48. Total 805.
- Peter O’Donoghue (Ind): +52. Total 1,095.
- Frank O’Flynn (FF): +49. Total 2,382.
- Frank Roche (Ind) +39. Total 733.
- Non transferable 93.
Frank O’Flynn’s surplus of 24 not enough to either elect or eliminate a candidate.
Frank Roche deemed to be eliminated and his votes will now be distributed.
The fifth Cobh count has seen no councillors elected yet again, with two thirds of the seats still to fill and nobody winning one since the first count last night.
Still in the race for the four remaining seats are Fine Gael’s Sinead Sheppard 1,710, Labour’s Cathal Rasmussen, 1,654, Ger Curley of Independent Ireland sits on 1,458, Fianna Fáil’s Dominic Finn on 1,110, Green Party’s Cliona O’Halloran, 990 and Sinn Féin’s Medhi Ozcinar 790.
Glór – Voice of the People’s Diarmuid Ó Cadhla, has been eliminated and his 666 votes will now be distributed.
Eileen Lynch was first elected to Cork County Council representing the Macroom electoral area in 2019 but her election to retain that seat on the fifth count in this year’s local election was even sweeter than her breakthrough win.
“My vote improved, I was elected on an earlier count and it was a fantastic result for the party in the Macroom area, we got over 40% of the vote,” she said, paying tribute to the team behind her who helped her on the campaign.
It’s no secret that Ms Lynch is keen to take up the mantle of Michael Creed and contest for a Dáil seat in Cork North West at the next time of asking – and the same can be said for her running mate, Michael Creed, who was elected on the first count – but she was coy when the question was put to her.
“You never know – one hurdle at a time.”
The next and sixth count is likely to be decisive in Macroom as it involves the distribution of the 1,366 votes of the Sinn Féin candidate, John O’Sullivan.
AS the last seat for the Kanturk local electoral area (LEA) was announced at 1.20pm, it marked the first municipal district in Cork to fill all seats.
This count saw former county mayor and sitting Fianna Fáil councillor Ian Doyle elected following the distribution of Sinn Féin’s Evelyn O’Keeffe’s votes.
Speaking emotionally to The Echo following the announcement, Mr Doyle said: “It’s fantastic, it’s great to be elected.
“The incumbent is always going to get the criticism but I am looking forward to working for the area and returning to County Hall,” he added.
It was a close call between Ian Doyle and Becky Kealy with Mr Doyle pushing out in front by a margin of 61 votes.
It's as you were in the Kanturk LEA with the four sitting councillors re-elected to Cork County Council.
Nobody has been elected from the fourth count in East Cork, with James Peter O’Sullivan from the Irish Freedom Party eliminated, and his 239 votes to now be distributed.
Hoping to join Independent Mary Linehan Foley and Michael Hegarty, Fine Gael who were elected on the first count last night are sitting councillors Social Democrats’ Liam Quaide, who sits on 1,700 after the fourth count.
Fianna Fail’s Ann Marie Ahern is currently in 7th place in the 7 seater constituency.
Her party colleague, Patrick Mulcahy is closest to the 2,026 quota at 1,847, followed by Quaide (1,700) then Fine Gael’s Rory Cocking (1,449) and Alison Curtin (1,138) then Ahern (1,101).
Independent John Buckley (920), Sinn Fein’s Edith Adams (765), Independent Sean Buckley (695), Independent Ireland Eileen Kelly McCarthy (658), Ireland First’s Paddy Bullman (461) and Green Party’s Clodagh Harrington (407) also remain in the race.
The seventh count for the Kanturk local electoral area (LEA) took place at 12.30pm in Mallow at the Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services (CDYS) Centre.
This count saw no candidate elected to Cork County Council, with Sinn Fein’s Evelyn O’Keefe eliminated.
With her surplus now being distributed, it is now a straight run between Aontu’s Becky Kealy and Fianna Fail’s Ian Doyle for the remaining seat in the Kanturk LEA.
Carrigaline Electoral Area elected its fourth of six councillors just after midday on Sunday after the completion of the fourth count at County Hall count centre.
The outgoing chairperson of the area’s Municipal Council, Audrey Buckley of Fianna Fáil was deemed elected after transfers from the surplus of Jack White were distributed.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to work for Carrigaline,” Ms Buckley told The Echo on Sunday morning.
She said she was looking forward to taking some family time now before the Council convenes for its general meeting on June 21.
Next in the queue to get elected for the remaining seats are Una McCarthy of Fine Gael and Eoghan Fahy of Sinn Féin. If, as seems probable, Eoghan Fahy is elected, he is likely to be the sole representative on Cork County Council of the main party of opposition in the Dáil.
The seventh count for the Kanturk local electoral area (LEA) took place at 12.30pm in Mallow at the Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services (CDYS) Centre.
This count saw no candidate elected to Cork County Council, with Sinn Fein’s Evelyn O’Keefe eliminated.
With her surplus now being distributed, it is now a straight run between Aontu’s Becky Kealy and Fianna Fail’s Ian Doyle for the remaining seat in the Kanturk LEA.
- Ian Doyle (FF): +73. Total 1,705
- Becky Kealy (Aontu): + 258. Total 1,485
- Evelyn O’Keeffe (SF): +76. Total 812.
No candidate has reached the 2,284 quota.
Trish Murphy’s 8 surplus votes can still neither elect nor eliminate any candidate.
Evelyn O’Keeffe has now been eliminated and her 812 surplus being distributed between Ian Doyle and Becky Kealy.
Fermoy Third Count Transfer of Noel McCarthy’s votes.
- Derek Blighe (|IF): +12. Total 951.
- Ken Brennan (Ind IE): + 3. Total 181.
- Neilus Cotter: (FF) : + 28. Total 1,334.
- Kay Dawson (FG): +62. Total 1,157.
- Diarmuid Hanley (Lab) - +12. Total 987.
- Thomas Horgan (Ind): +0. Total 64.
- Deirdre O’Brien (FF): +31. Total 1,963.
- Joe O’Brien (SF): +14. Total 757.
- Peter O’Donoghue (Ind): +18. Total 1,043.
- Frank O’Flynn (FF): +69. Total 2,333.
- Frank Roche (Ind) +7. Total 694.
- Mary Ryder (Green Party). +2 Total: 199.
- Joe Tobin (Ind) +8. Total 122.
No Quota reached for any candidate.
No surplus to be distributed.
Lowest four candidates, Ken Brennan, Thomas Horgan, Mary Ryder and Joe Tobin have now been eliminated.
Danny Collins elected in Bantry Danny Collins is the second Collins brother to be elected in west Cork for the Independent Ireland party. Mr Collins was elected in the Bantry West Cork LEA when he exceeded the quota of 2,460 on the third count with 2,515 votes. Danny Joins his brother John on Cork County Council who was elected for the Bandon area in the early hours of the morning.
Danny Collins said: “I thank the people for reelecting me, it’s been a long couple of months, a hard canvas and I thank all my canvassers. The people have trusted me and I thank them for that and I will dog my utmost to respect the trust they have given me to represent them in Cork County Council.”
After a marathon first day of counting finishing after 3am in the morning it was a case of Irish Independent’s day in the three west Cork LEAs of Bandon-Kinsale, Bantry and Skibbereen. The Independent Ireland party founded by west Cork TD Michael Collins made a strong showing in all three local areas with brother Danny Collins topping the poll in Bantry, brother John elected on the first count in Bandon and Michael Sexton competing for a seat in Skibbereen.
Veteran independent and former Fianna Fáil county mayor Alan Coleman topped the poll in Bandon and was elected on the first count. In Bantry independent Finbarr Harrington was second on the first count with 1,870 votes. Harrington memorably lost by just one vote to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns in 2009. This time around he looks assured of taking a seat polling well beyond his Beara Peninsula heartland. Helen O’Sullivan, formerly of the Farmer’s Alliance also polled very well in Bantry and will be in contention for a seat.
For the Social Democrats there was also good news with Ann Bambury looking likely to take a seat in Bandon and Isobel Towse and Chris Heinhold both in the mix in Skibbereen and Bantry respectively. For the established parties it looks like the start of a strong comeback for Fine Gael’s Noel O’Donovan who previously left politics to become a Garda, he topped the poll in Skibbereen while John Michael Foley and Marie O’Sullivan could take two seats for the party in Bandon. In Bantry, Schull-based Caroline Cronin looks very likely to make it across the line.
For Fianna Fáil a return of four councillors across the three areas looks likely and even five might be possible. Seasoned campaigner Joe Carroll is as popular as ever with voters in Skibbereen while former county mayor Gillian Coughlan looks good for a seat in Bandon. Bantry-based Patrick Gerard Murphy looks likely to make a return to the council in the west.
Reflecting the national picture Sinn Fein didn’t make any significant inroads in west Cork with their three candidates picking up less than 1,300 votes between them across the three areas. The party still have not found a replacement for the popular Paul Hayes in the Skibbereen area who left to become an independent and chose not to run this time around. For the Greens Rory Jackson was eliminated on the first count in Skibbereen while Stephen Spillane polled second to bottom in Bandon and Liz Coakley Wakefield was third from bottom in Bantry with 294 votes.
THE third count for the Fermoy local electoral area (LEA) took place at 12.10pm at the Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services (CDYS) Centre, with a sweeping elimination of four candidates.
This count saw no candidate elected, with Independent Joe Tobin, Green Party Mary Ryder, Independent Ireland Ken Brennan and Independent Thomas Horgan eliminated.
This looking like it’s going to be a long day for the remaining Fermoy LEA candidates as four seats remain to be filled.
There are still only two candidates elected in Cobh after the fourth count, Fianna Fáil’s Sheila O’Callaghan (2,202) and Anthony Barry, Fine Gael (1,935).
Rola Abu Zeid-O’Neill, People Before Profit and Peter Kidney, Independent have both been eliminated, and remaining but still below the quota of 1,846 are
- Sinead Sheppard, Fine Gael, (1,669)
- Cathal Rasmussen, Labour, (1,649),
- Ger Curley, Independent Ireland (1,454),
- Dominic Finn, Fianna Fail, (1,098),
- Cliona O’Halloran, Greens, (982),
- Keith Kelly, Fine Gael (714),
- Medhi Ozcnar, Sinn Fein (788), and
- Diarmuid O Cadhla, Glor – Voice of the People (663).
The surplus from Anthony Barry will now be distributed, with no additional candidates being eliminated
Kanturk sixth count
The sixth count for the Kanturk local electoral area (LEA) took place moments ago in Mallow at the Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services (CDYS) Centre.
This count saw no candidate elected to Cork County Council, with Independent Finbarr Cronin eliminated.
THE third count for the Mallow local electoral area (LEA) took place at 11.40am at the Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services (CDYS) Centre, leaving little to be desired for the remaining candidates as no individual was elected.
This count also saw no individual eliminated.
The distribution of 281 surplus votes from the Labour Party’s re-elected Eoghan Kenny will likely see no candidate elected on the next count, with sitting Fianna Fail councillors Gearoid Murphy and Pat Hayes expected to retain their seats.
- Ross Cannon (TIP): + 15. Total 361.
- David Curry (Soc Dems): + 21. Total 276.
- Pat Hayes (FF) : + 268. Total 1.559.
- Paul McNally (Green Party): +18. Total 170.
- Gearoid Murphy (FF) : +207. Total 1,790.
- Melissa O’Brien (SF) : +57. Total: 1,012.
- Paddy Scully (Aontu): + 27. Total 424.
As no candidate has reached the 1,958 quota, no candidate was elected.
Eoghan Kenny’s surplus of 281 votes now being distributed.
No candidates have been elected from the second or third count in East Cork/Midleton.
Independent Mary Linehan Foley (2,962) and Michael Hegarty, Fine Gael (2,116) both scored over the quota 2026 of in Midleton and got elected on the first count.
Michelle Neville, Independent has been eliminated, and her 219 votes will now be distributed amongst the remaining candidates, whose figures after the third count stand at:
- Patrick Mulcahy, Fianna Fail – 1,836,
- Liam Quaide, Social Democrats – 1,681,
- Rory Cocking, Fine Gael – 1,444,
- Ann Marie Ahern, Fianna Fail – 1,092,
- Alison Curtin, Fine Gael – 1,110,
- Edith Adams, Sinn Fein - 755,
- John Buckley, Independent - 901,
- Sean Buckley, Independent – 684,
- Clodagh Harrington, Green Party – 400,
- Eileen Kelly McCarthy, Independent Ireland 638,
- Mona Stromsoe – Aontu, 718,
- James Peter O’Sullivan, The Irish People – 226,
- Paddy Bullman, Ireland First – 433.
WHILE the third count in the Macroom electoral area, which has just been announced, changed little at the top of the leaderboard of remaining candidates, the distribution of the votes of Rosarie O’Leary, the Aontú candidate, leaves just 68 votes between the candidates vying for the sixth seat.
Martin Coughlan, the independent councillor, is on 1,624 votes, just 68 votes ahead of Independent Ireland candidate, Dermot Kelleher, who is on 1,556 votes.
The next operation in the distribution of Michael Creed’s surplus of 51 votes and this could put his running mate Eileen Lynch, who is on 2,460 votes, within touching distance of the quota of 2,542.
After that the next likely operation is the elimination of the Green Party candidate, Harriet Burgess, who is currently sitting on 998 votes.
COUNTING is continuing at County Hall this morning.
There are 16 seats remaining across Midleton, Macroom, Carrigaline and Cobh to be filled and more than 40 candidates hoping to win them.
In Cobh, a third count has taken place, but there are still only two candidates elected: Fianna Fáil’s Sheila O’Callaghan (2,202) and Anthony Barry, Fine Gael (1,935).
Rola Abu Zeid-O’Neill, People Before Profit and Peter Kidney, Independent have both been eliminated.
Hoping to get over the quota of 1,846 are Sinead Sheppard, Fine Gael, (1,639) Cathal Rasmussen, Labour, (1,606), Ger Curley, Independent Ireland (1,409), Dominic Finn, Fianna Fail, (1,083), Cliona O’Halloran, Greens, (869), Keith Kelly, Fine Gael (703), Medhi Ozcnar, Sinn Fein (646), Diarmuid O Cadhla, Glor – Voice of the People (620).
Independent Mary Linehan Foley (2,962) and Michael Hegarty, Fine Gael (2,116) both scored over the quota 2,026 of in Midleton and got elected on the first count, and no candidates have been elected from the second count.
Their votes, with transfers, are:
Edith Adams, Sinn Fein - 754, Ann Marie Ahern, Fianna Fail – 1,092, John Buckley, Independent -898, Sean Buckley, Independent – 681, Paddy Bullman, Ireland First - 433, Rory Cocking, Fine Gael – 1,422, Alison Curtin, Fine Gael – 1,091, Clodagh Harrington, Green Party – 399, Eileen Kelly McCarthy, Independent Ireland 635, Patrick Mulcahy, Fianna Fail – 1,814, Michelle Neville, Independent – 218, James Peter O’Sullivan, The Irish People – 224, Liam Quaide, Social Democrats – 1,681 and Mona Stromsoe – Aontu, 716.
THE counting of votes for the local elections for Cork County Council has resumed.
At the Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services (CDYS) Centre in Mallow, candidates are preparing for a quick fire succession of individuals to be elected.
The results of fifth count for the Kanturk local electoral area (LEA) were announced in the last few minutes. No candidate reached the quota on the fifth count.
Last night saw Fianna Fail's Bernard Moynihan announced as the first elected candidate to Cork County Council in the Kanturk LEA at 9pm, followed by Fine Gael's John Paul O’Shea, who was elected on the second count at 10.55pm.
There were no candidates elected on the third count.
On the fourth count for the Kanturk LEA Fine Gael's Trish Murphy was elected.
The first count for the Mallow LEA was announced at 10.20pm and saw Fine Gael's Tony O’Shea re-elected to Cork County Council.
This was followed by the re-election of Fine Gael's Liam Madden and the Labour Party’s first-time candidate Eoghan Kenny.
The first count for the Fermoy LEA, was announced at midnight, which saw Independent councillor William O’Leary re-elected.
This was accompanied by the re-election of Fine Gael's Noel McCarthy.
This left one vacant seat for the Kanturk LEA, two vacant seats for the Mallow LEA, and four vacant seats for the Fermoy LEA as the count centre finished announcements for day one at 3am.
Speaking to The Echo ahead of today’s count, Fianna Fáil's Gearoid Murphy, who is running in the Mallow LEA, said that he believes he is in a reasonable position to be re-elected.
“There's quite a lot of waiting unfortunately,” he said. “It’s a humbling moment when the ballot boxes are opened.
“There's almost an X-Factor of what’s going to happen."
“At the end of the day there’s only one poll that counts,” he added. “It really tests your confidence.
“The remaining three left in the fight are myself, my colleague Pat Hayes and Melissa O’Brien of Sinn Féin. Thankfully I’m in the best shape out of those at the moment.”
Counting has also resumed in County Hall for the remaining seats in the Macroom, Carrigaline, Cobh and East Cork electoral areas after a late finish earlier on Sunday morning.
Already elected in Macroom were Fianna Fáil’s Gobnait Moynihan and Michael Creed of Fine Gael on the first count while Michael Looney of Fianna Fáil picked up sufficient transfers to cross the line himself and be deemed elected on the second count which came at around 1.15am.
In Carrigaline Seamus McGrath, the brother of the Finance Minister, romped to the top of the polls with 5,191 votes, well in excess of the quota of 2,057.
Independent councillor Ben Dalton O’Sullivan was also elected on the first count.
There followed a long wait as the 3,000+ surplus of Seamus McGrath was counted and this led to the election of Jack White of Fine Gael, an indication that the two main Government parties were transferring to one another, a pattern which had not been so prevalent in previous elections.
The next operation in the Macroom count is the elimination of Aontú candidate Rosarie O’Leary and the redistribution of her 588 votes while in Carrigaline, the surplus of Ben Dalton O’Sullivan has to be distributed.
It will be midday at the earliest before we can expect further count announcements in County Hall.
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